Natural anti-CCR5 antibodies in HIV-infection and -exposure

Natural antibodies constitute a first-line of defence against pathogens; they may also play other roles in immune regulation and homeostasis, through their ability to bind host antigens, surface molecules and receptors. Natural anti-CCR5 antibodies can be decisive in preventing HIV infection in mucosal tissues and offer prompt and effective protection just at major sites of virus entry. Among natural anti-CCR5 antibodies, IgG and IgA to the ECL1 domain have been shown to block HIV effectively and durably without causing harm to the host. Their biological properties and their uncommon generation in subsets of HIV-infected and HIV-exposed individuals (so called ESN) will be introduced and discussed, with the aim at exploiting their potential in therapy and prevention

Relative income and job satisfaction: evidence from Australia

Using the first six waves of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey dataset, a linear fixed effects model is used to examine the link between relative income and overall job satisfaction in Australia. In this paper, relative income is constructed using cell average by age group, gender and education level. The findings indicate that (i) relative income has a significant negative impact on overall job satisfaction for men but not for women; and (ii) for the whole sample and for men, income comparisons are asymmetric and upwards, meaning that the loss in overall job satisfaction by the poor from having an income below that of their reference group is significantly greater than the gain by the rich from knowing that they earn above that of their reference group. Overall, the evidence found is consistent with Dueseneberry’s hypothesis that relative income matters and comparison effect is asymmetric and mostly upwards

Residential Satisfaction and Civic Engagement: Understanding the Causes of Community Participation

Residential satisfaction, Civic engagement, Political participation,