Field quality of 1.5 m long conduction cooled superconducting undulator coils with 20 mm period length

The Institute for Beam Physics and Technology (IBPT) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the industrial partner Babcock Noell GmbH (BNG) are collaborating since 2007 on the development of superconducting undulators both for ANKA and low emittance light sources. The first full length device with 15 mm period length has been successfully tested in the ANKA storage ring for one year. The next superconducting undulator has 20 mm period length (SCU20) and is also planned to be installed in the accelerator test facility and synchrotron light source ANKA. The SCU20 1.5 m long coils have been characterized in a conduction cooled horizontal test facility developed at KIT IBPT. Here we present the local magnetic field and field integral measurements, as well as their analysis including the expected photon spectrum

BCL3 rearrangements in B-cell lymphoid neoplasms occur in two breakpoint clusters associated with different diseases

The t(14;19)(q32;q13) often juxtaposes BCL3 with immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) resulting in overexpression of the gene. In contrast to other oncogenic translocations, BCL3 rearrangement (BCL3-R) has been associated with a broad spectrum of lymphoid neoplasms. Here we report an integrative whole-genome sequence, transcriptomic, and DNA methylation analysis of 13 lymphoid neoplasms with BCL3-R. The resolution of the breakpoints at single base-pair revealed that they occur in two clusters at 5' (n=9) and 3' (n=4) regions of BCL3 associated with two different biological and clinical entities. Both breakpoints were mediated by aberrant class switch recombination of the IGH locus. However, the 5' breakpoints (upstream) juxtaposed BCL3 next to an IGH enhancer leading to overexpression of the gene whereas the 3' breakpoints (downstream) positioned BCL3 outside the influence of the IGH and were not associated with its expression. Upstream BCL3-R tumors had unmutated IGHV, trisomy 12, and mutated genes frequently seen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) but had an atypical CLL morphology, immunophenotype, DNA methylome, and expression profile that differ from conventional CLL. In contrast, downstream BCL3-R neoplasms were atypical splenic or nodal marginal zone lymphomas (MZL) with mutated IGHV, complex karyotypes and mutated genes typical of MZL. Two of the latter four tumors transformed to a large B-cell lymphoma. We designed a novel fluorescence in situ hybridization assay that recognizes the two different breakpoints and validated these findings in 17 independent tumors. Overall, upstream or downstream breakpoints of BCL3-R are mainly associated with two subtypes of lymphoid neoplasms with different (epi)genomic, expression, and clinicopathological features resembling atypical CLL and MZL, respectively.Funding: This study was supported by the “la Caixa" Foundation (CLLEvolution - LCF/PR/HR17/52150017 [HR17-00221LCF] and CLLSYSTEMS - LCF/PR/HR22/52420015 [HR22-00172] Health Research 2017 and 2022 Programs, to EC), the European Research Council (to EC and JIM-S) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (810287, BCLLatlas, to EC), Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN) /AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and European Regional Development Fund “Una manera de hacer Europa” (PID2021-123054OB-I00 to EC) and the Generalitat de Catalunya Suport Grups de Recerca AGAUR (2021-SGR-01172 to EC and 2021-SGR-01293 to SB). HP-A is a recipient of a pre-doctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU19/03110). MD-F acknowledges the research support from the AECC Scientific Foundation. FN acknowledges research support from the American Association for Cancer Research (2021 AACRAmgen Fellowship in Clinical/Translational Cancer Research, 21-40-11-NADE), European Hematology Association (EHA Junior Research Grant 2021, RG-202012-00245), and Lady Tata Memorial Trust (International Award for Research in Leukemia 2021-2022, LADY_TATA_21_3223). EC is an Academia Researcher of the “Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats” (ICREA) of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Acknowledgments: The authors thank the Hematopathology Collection registered at the Biobank of Hospital Clí nic - Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), the Biobank HUB-ICO-IDIBELL (PT17/0015/0024), integrated in the Spanish Biobank Network and funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PT17/0015/0024), and Xarxa de Bancs de Tumors de Catalunya sponsored by Pla Director d’Oncologia de Catalunya (XBTC), and the Molecular Cytogenetics Platform of IMIM, Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) for providing BAC clones. This work was partially developed at the Center Esther Koplowitz (CEK, Barcelona, Spain)

Elevated Humoral Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 at High Altitudes Revealed by an Anti-RBD “In-House” ELISA

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic with dramatic health and socioeconomic consequences. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) challenges health systems to quickly respond by developing new diagnostic strategies that contribute to identify infected individuals, monitor infections, perform contact-tracing, and limit the spread of the virus. In this brief report, we developed a highly sensitive, specific, and precise “In-House” ELISA to correctly discriminate previously SARS-CoV-2-infected and non-infected individuals and study population seroprevalence. Among 758 individuals evaluated for anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology in the province of Tucumán, Argentina, we found a weak correlation between antibodies elicited against the RBD, the receptor-binding domain of the Spike protein, and the nucleocapsid (N) antigens of this virus. Additionally, we detected mild levels of anti-RBD IgG antibodies in 33.6% of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, while only 19% showed sufficient antibody titers to be considered as plasma donors. No differences in IgG anti-RBD titers were found between women and men, neither in between different age groups ranging from 18 to 60. Surprisingly, individuals from a high altitude village displayed elevated and longer lasting anti-RBD titers compared to those from a lower altitude city. To our knowledge, this is the first report correlating altitude with increased humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection.Fil: Tomas Grau, Rodrigo Hernán. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Ploper, Diego. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Avila, Cesar Luis. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Vera Pingitore, Esteban. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Maldonado Galdeano, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Chaves, Analia Silvina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Socias, Sergio Benjamin. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Stagnetto, Agustín. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Navarro, Silvia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Chahla, Rossana Elena. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Aguilar López, Mónica. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Hospital de Dia Presidente Nestor Carlos Kirchner; ArgentinaFil: Llapur, Conrado Juan. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Aznar, Patricia. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Hospital de Dia Presidente Nestor Carlos Kirchner; ArgentinaFil: Alcorta, María Elena. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Hospital de Dia Presidente Nestor Carlos Kirchner; ArgentinaFil: Costas, Dardo. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Hospital de Dia Presidente Nestor Carlos Kirchner; ArgentinaFil: Flores, Isolina. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Hospital de Dia Presidente Nestor Carlos Kirchner; ArgentinaFil: Heinze, Dar. University of Boston. School of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Apfelbaum, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Mostoslavsky, Raul. Harvard Medical School; Estados UnidosFil: Mostoslavsky, Gustavo. Harvard Medical School; Estados UnidosFil: Cazorla, Silvia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Perdigon, Gabriela del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Chehin, Rosana Nieves. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; Argentin

Long-term analysis of antibodies elicited by SPUTNIK V: A prospective cohort study in Tucumán, Argentina

Background: Gam-COVID-Vac (SPUTNIK V) has been granted emergency use authorization in 70 nations and has been administered to millions worldwide. However, there are very few peer-reviewed studies describing its effects. Independent reports regarding safety and effectiveness could accelerate the final approval by the WHO. We aimed to study the long-term humoral immune response in nay¨ve and previously infected volunteers who received SPUTNIK V. Methods: Humoral immune responses, assayed by anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike-RBD IgG ELISA and neutralization assays, were measured in 602 healthcare workers at 0, 14, 28, 60 and 180 days after receiving SPUTNIK V between December 2020 and July 2021 in Tucuman, Argentina. Findings: Seroconversion was detected in 97% of individuals after 28 days post-vaccination (dpv) (N = 405). Anti-RBD titers began to decrease after 60 dpv (N = 328), but remained detectable in 94% at 90 dpv (N = 224). At 180 dpv, anti-RDB titers persisted in 31% (N = 146). Previous infection triggered an increased immune response to the first dose and increased neutralization activity against variants of concern (VOC). Second doses in previously infected individuals further increased titers, even 90 dpv (N = 75). Basal antibody titers had more influence on postvaccination anti-RBD responses than the time elapsed between diagnosis and vaccination (N = 274). Interpretation: Data presented herein provides essential knowledge regarding the kinetics of antibodies induced by SPUTNIK V up to six months after immunization, and suggests that when considering one-dose vaccination policies for individuals with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, serological studies to determine basal titers may be important, independent of when diagnosis occurred.Fil: Chahla, Rossana Elena. Ministerio de Salud Pública de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Tomas Grau, Rodrigo Hernán. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario.; ArgentinaFil: Cazorla, Silvia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Ploper, Diego. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario.; ArgentinaFil: Vera Pingitore, Esteban. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario.; ArgentinaFil: Aguilar López, Mónica. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Departamento Bioquimico. Laboratorio de Salud Publica.; ArgentinaFil: Aznar, Patricia. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Departamento Bioquimico. Laboratorio de Salud Publica.; ArgentinaFil: Alcorta, María Elena. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Departamento Bioquimico. Laboratorio de Salud Publica.; ArgentinaFil: Velez, Eva Maria del Mar. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Departamento Bioquimico. Laboratorio de Salud Publica.; ArgentinaFil: Stagnetto, Agustín. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario.; ArgentinaFil: Avila, Cesar Luis. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario.; ArgentinaFil: Maldonado Galdeano, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Socias, Sergio Benjamin. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario.; ArgentinaFil: Heinze, Dar. University Of Boston. School Of Medicine. Center For Regenerative Medicine.; Estados UnidosFil: Navarro, Silvia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario.; ArgentinaFil: Llapur, Conrado Juan. Ministerio de Salud Pública de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Costas, Dardo. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Departamento Bioquimico. Laboratorio de Salud Publica.; ArgentinaFil: Flores, Isolina. Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Departamento Bioquimico. Laboratorio de Salud Publica.; ArgentinaFil: Edelstein, Alexis. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C. G. Malbrán"; ArgentinaFil: Kowdle, Shreyas. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Estados UnidosFil: Perandones, Claudia. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C. G. Malbrán"; ArgentinaFil: Lee, Benhur. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Estados UnidosFil: Apfelbaum, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Mostoslavsky, Raul. Harvard Medical School; Estados UnidosFil: Mostoslavsky, Gustavo. University Of Boston. School Of Medicine. Center For Regenerative Medicine.; Estados UnidosFil: Perdigon, Gabriela del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Chehin, Rosana Nieves. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario.; Argentin

BCL3-rearrangements in B-cell lymphoid neoplasms occur in two breakpoint clusters associated with different diseases

The t(14;19)(q32;q13) often juxtaposes BCL3 with IGH resulting in overexpression of the gene. In contrast to other oncogenic translocations, BCL3-rearrangement (BCL3-R) has been associated with a broad spectrum of lymphoid neoplasms. Here we report an integrative whole-genome sequence, transcriptomic, and DNA methylation analysis of 13 lymphoid neoplasms with BCL3-R. The resolution of the breakpoints at single base-pair revealed that they occur in two clusters at 5' (n=9) and 3' (n=4) regions of BCL3 associated with two different biological and clinical entities. Both breakpoints were mediated by aberrant class switch recombination of the IGH locus. However, the 5' breakpoints (upstream) juxtaposed BCL3 next to an IGH enhancer leading to overexpression of the gene whereas the 3' breakpoints (downstream) positioned BCL3 outside the influence of the IGH and were not associated with its expression. Upstream BCL3-R tumors had unmutated IGHV, trisomy 12, and mutated genes frequently seen in CLL but had an atypical CLL morphology, immunophenotype, DNA methylome, and expression profile that differ from conventional CLL. In contrast, downstream BCL3-R neoplasms were atypical splenic or nodal marginal zone lymphomas (MZL) with mutated IGHV, complex karyotypes and mutated genes typical of MZL. Two of the latter 4 tumors transformed to a large B-cell lymphoma. We designed a novel FISH assay that recognizes the two different breakpoints and validated these findings in 17 independent tumors. Overall, upstream or downstream breakpoints of BCL3-R are mainly associated with two subtypes of lymphoid neoplasms with different (epi)genomic, expression, and clinicopathological features resembling atypical CLL and MZL, respectively

BCL3-rearrangements in B-cell lymphoid neoplasms occur in two breakpoint clusters associated with different diseases

The t(14;19)(q32;q13) often juxtaposes BCL3 with immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) resulting in overexpression of the gene. In contrast to other oncogenic translocations, BCL3 rearrangement (BCL3-R) has been associated with a broad spectrum of lymphoid neoplasms. Here we report an integrative whole-genome sequence, transcriptomic, and DNA methylation analysis of 13 lymphoid neoplasms with BCL3-R. The resolution of the breakpoints at single base-pair revealed that they occur in two clusters at 5' (n=9) and 3' (n=4) regions of BCL3 associated with two different biological and clinical entities. Both breakpoints were mediated by aberrant class switch recombination of the IGH locus. However, the 5' breakpoints (upstream) juxtaposed BCL3 next to an IGH enhancer leading to overexpression of the gene whereas the 3' breakpoints (downstream) positioned BCL3 outside the influence of the IGH and were not associated with its expression. Upstream BCL3-R tumors had unmutated IGHV, trisomy 12, and mutated genes frequently seen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) but had an atypical CLL morphology, immunophenotype, DNA methylome, and expression profile that differ from conventional CLL. In contrast, downstream BCL3-R neoplasms were atypical splenic or nodal marginal zone lymphomas (MZL) with mutated IGHV, complex karyotypes and mutated genes typical of MZL. Two of the latter four tumors transformed to a large B-cell lymphoma. We designed a novel fluorescence in situ hybridization assay that recognizes the two different breakpoints and validated these findings in 17 independent tumors. Overall, upstream or downstream breakpoints of BCL3-R are mainly associated with two subtypes of lymphoid neoplasms with different (epi)genomic, expression, and clinicopathological features resembling atypical CLL and MZL, respectively

A Role for Fetal Hemoglobin and Maternal Immune IgG in Infant Resistance to Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

In Africa, infant susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum malaria increases substantially as fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and maternal immune IgG disappear from circulation. During the first few months of life, however, resistance to malaria is evidenced by extremely low parasitemias, the absence of fever, and the almost complete lack of severe disease. This resistance has previously been attributed in part to poor parasite growth in HbF-containing red blood cells (RBCs). A specific role for maternal immune IgG in infant resistance to malaria has been hypothesized but not yet identified.We found that P. falciparum parasites invade and develop normally in fetal (cord blood, CB) RBCs, which contain up to 95% HbF. However, these parasitized CB RBCs are impaired in their binding to human microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs), monocytes, and nonparasitized RBCs--cytoadherence interactions that have been implicated in the development of high parasite densities and the symptoms of malaria. Abnormal display of the parasite's cytoadherence antigen P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (PfEMP-1) on CB RBCs accounts for these findings and is reminiscent of that on HbC and HbS RBCs. IgG purified from the plasma of immune Malian adults almost completely abolishes the adherence of parasitized CB RBCs to MVECs.Our data suggest a model of malaria protection in which HbF and maternal IgG act cooperatively to impair the cytoadherence of parasitized RBCs in the first few months of life. In highly malarious areas of Africa, an infant's contemporaneous expression of HbC or HbS and development of an immune IgG repertoire may effectively reconstitute the waning protective effects of HbF and maternal immune IgG, thereby extending the malaria resistance of infancy into early childhood