"Spirits to enforce, art to enchant"

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit William Shakespeares Drama "The Tempest" und zwei Verfilmungen, die das Werk für die Kinoleinwand adaptierten. Bei diesen Filmen handelt es sich um Derek Jarmans "The Tempest" (1979) und Peter Greenaways "Prospero’s Books" (1991). "The Tempest" ist eines der Stücke Shakespeares, das, im Vergleich zu anderen Dramen, selten verfilmt wurde. Ausgehend von einer ausführlichen Analyse des "Tempest" und der Ausarbeitung spezieller Themenschwerpunkte der literaturwissenschaftlichen Drameninterpretation werden, nach einem kurzen Umriss des Genres der Shakespeare-Verfilmung an sich, die beiden Filme in Relation zu ihrer Vorlage untersucht, um so mögliche Gründe für dieses Ungleichgewicht herauszuarbeiten. Der Schwerpunkt liegt diesbezüglich, obgleich sich im Lauf der Arbeit noch weitere relevante Themen herauskristallisieren, auf dem Aspekt des Phantastischen und dessen Darstellung im Tempest, also den magischen Vorgängen, den übernatürlichen Charakteren und den Geistererscheinungen, da diesbezüglich den filmischen Bearbeitungen, vermeintlich, alle Möglichkeiten offen stehen. Multimediabeilage (Bilder) im AnhangThis paper deals with William Shakespeare’s drama "The Tempest" and two of its screen adaptions. These are Derek Jarman’s "The Tempest" (1979) and Peter Greenaway’s "Prospero’s Books" (1991). Compared to others, "The Tempest" is one of Shakespeare’s plays seldom adapted into film. Starting with a profound drama analysis, presenting its focus in Literary Theory and Drama Research, further taking a glimpse on the genre of “Shakespeare on screen” in general, these two films are being observed in detail, correlating with the drama, to find possible reasons for this imbalance. For this the emphasis lies, besides stressing other relevant issues, on the drama’s fantastic aspects, such as performed magic, supernatural characters and appearing spirits, and their presentation on screen, which could be assumed to have every possible option at its disposal

Next-generation sequencing shows marked rearrangements of BK polyomavirus that favor but are not required for polyomavirus-associated nephropathy

Background BKPyV is associated with polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), a major cause of graft rejection in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Mutations occur in the transcriptional control region (TCR) of BKPyV, but whether they are required for the development of PVAN is not completely understood. To this end, we characterized BKPyV TCRs from KTRs to assess whether TCR mutations are associated with PVAN. Study design We analyzed urine and plasma samples of fifteen KTRs with biopsy-confirmed PVAN, presumptive PVAN, or probable PVAN in order to explore the contents of the BKPyV virome. BKPyV TCRs were amplified and deep sequenced to characterize the viral strains. Alterations in block structures and transcription factor binding sites were investigated. Results The majority of sequences in both urine and plasma samples represented archetype BKPyV TCR. Minor populations harboring rearranged TCRs were detected in all patient groups. In one biopsy-confirmed PVAN patient rearranged TCRs predominated, and in another patient half of all reads represented rearranged sequences. Conclusions Although archetype BKPyV predominated in most patients, highest proportions and highest numbers of rearranged strains were detected in association with PVAN. TCR mutations seem not necessary for the development of PVAN, but immunosuppression may allow increased viral replication giving rise to TCR variants with enhanced replication efficiency.Peer reviewe

Multiplex analysis of Human Polyomavirus diversity in kidney transplant recipients with BK virus replication

Background: While the pathogenicity of the two initially identified Human Polyomaviruses (HPyVs), BK Virus (BKPyV) and JC Virus (JCPyV) has been intensely studied, there is only limited data, on whether the occurrence of the recently discovered HPyVs correlates with high level BKPyV replication and progression towards Polyomavirus associated nephropathy (PVAN). Methods: Therefore, we performed a comprehensive longitudinal genoprevalence analysis of 13 HPyVs using a novel multiplex assay including 400 serum and 388 urine samples obtained from 99 kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), grouped by quantitative BKPyV DNA loads and evidence of manifest BKPyV associated disease (histologically verified PVAN, high urinary decoy cell levels and concurrent decrease of renal function). Results: In total, 3 different non-BKPyV/JCPyV HPyVs, Human Polyomavirus 9, Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) and Trichodysplasia Spinulosa associated Polyomavirus were detected in 11 blood and 21 urine samples from 21 patients. Although DNAemia of these viruses occurred more frequently during high level BKPyV DNAemia and PVAN, the increase of the detection frequency due to progression of BKPyV replication did not reach statistical significance for blood samples. The positive detection rate of MCPyV in urine, however, was significantly higher during BKPyV DNAemia in 19 KTRs of our cohort who suffered from histologically verified PVAN (p=0.005). In one individual with PVAN, continuous long-term shedding of MCPyV in urine was observed. Conclusion: In our cohort the recently discovered HPyVs HPyV9, TSPyV and MCPyV emerged in blood from KTRs with variable kinetics, while detection of MCPyV DNAuria occurred more frequently during BKPyV DNAemia in patients with PVAN.Peer reviewe

Longitudinal assessment of the CXCL10 blood and urine concentration in kidney transplant recipients with BK polyomavirus replication—a retrospective study

In kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) replication may progress to polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN). In this retrospective study, we assessed the chemokine CXCL10 in urine and blood samples consecutively acquired from 85 KTRs who displayed different stages of BKPyV replication and eventually developed PVAN. In parallel to progression toward PVAN, CXCL10 gradually increased in blood and urine, from baseline (prior to virus replication) to BKPyV DNAuria (median increase in blood: 42.15 pg/ml, P = 0.0156), from mere DNAuria to low- and high-level BKPyV DNAemia (median increase: 52.60 and 87.26 pg/ml, P = 0.0010 and P = 0.0002, respectively) and peaked with histologically confirmed PVAN (median increase: 145.00 pg/ml, P <0.0001). CXCL10 blood and urine levels significantly differed among KTRs with respect to simultaneous presence of human cytomegalovirus (P <0.001) as well as in relation to the clinical severity of respective BKPyV DNAemia episodes (P = 0.0195). CXCL-10 concentrations were particularly lower in KTRs in whom BKPyV DNAemia remained without clinical evidence for PVAN, as compared to individuals who displayed high decoy cell levels, decreased renal function and/or biopsy-proven PVAN (median blood concentration: 266.97 vs. 426.42 pg/ml, P = 0.0282). In conclusion, in KTRs CXCL10 rises in parallel to BKPyV replication and correlates with the gradual development of PVAN.Peer reviewe

Different Neutralization Profiles After Primary SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 Infections

Background and MethodsThe SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant is the antigenically most distinct variant to date. As the heavily mutated spike protein enables neutralization escape, we studied serum-neutralizing activities of naïve and vaccinated individuals after Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 sub-lineage infections in live virus neutralization tests with Omicron BA.1, Omicron BA.2, wildtype (WT, B1.1), and Delta (B.1.617.2) strains. Serum samples obtained after WT infections and three-dose mRNA vaccinations with and without prior infection were included as controls.ResultsPrimary BA.1 infections yielded reduced neutralizing antibody levels against WT, Delta, and Omicron BA.2, while samples from BA.2-infected individuals showed almost no cross-neutralization against the other variants. Serum neutralization of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants was detectable after three-dose mRNA vaccinations, but with reduced titers. Vaccination-breakthrough infections with either Omicron BA.1 or BA.2, however, generated equal cross-neutralizing antibody levels against all SARS-CoV-2 variants tested.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that although Omicron variants are able to enhance cross-neutralizing antibody levels in pre-immune individuals, primary infections with BA.1 or BA.2 induced mostly variant-specific neutralizing antibodies, emphasizing the differently shaped humoral immunity induced by the two Omicron variants. These data thus contribute substantially to the understanding of antibody responses induced by primary Omicron infections or multiple exposures to different SARS-CoV-2 variants and are of particular importance for developing vaccination strategies in the light of future emerging variants

Zur Rezeption Mohammeds und der Muslime im lateinischen Mittelalter

Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Rezeption Mohammeds und der Muslime bei vier Autoren des lateinischen Mittelalters: Eulogius von Cordoba, Paulus Albarus, Embricho von Mainz und Eupolemius. Bei Eupolemius ist ungeklärt, ob es sich um Verfassernamen oder Werktitel handelt. Ausgehend von der antislamischen Polemik bei Johannes von Damaskus, Theophanes von Byzanz und Pseudo-Methodius wird bei den mozarabischen Autoren Eulogius von Cordoba und Paulus Albarus die Rezeption Mohammeds und der Muslime untersucht. Die Äußerungen des Eulogius in seiner Vita Mahometi und die des Paulus Albarus in seiner Kampfschrift Indiculus luminosus werden auf deren Kenntnisse über den Islam und ihre Polemik gegen Muslime beleuchtet und mit denen der byzantinischen Autoren verglichen. Die Rezeption Mohammeds und der Muslime, wie sie Embricho von Mainz in seiner poetischen Dichtung Vita Mahumeti zum Ausdruck bringt, wird vorgestellt und es wird dargelegt, inwieweit die bekannte Polemik übernommen wird oder sich verändert. Ebenso werden die verschlüsselten Verweise auf Muslime im allegorischen Epos Eupolemius, die die Rezeption der Muslime betreffen, vorgestellt und im Vergleich gezeigt, dass alle Autoren zu den Muslimen eine ähnliche Haltung einnehmen und sie den Islam nicht als Religion, sondern als Häresie wahrnehmen, hinter der die Macht des Teufels steht. So kann gezeigt werden, dass die byzantinische Polemik in ihren Grundzügen beibehalten wird. Die jeweiligen Vertiefungen und Modifizierungen der Rezeption werden unter Berücksichtigung der literarischen Genera vorgestellt

Comparison of approaches for IgG avidity calculation and a new highly sensitive and specific method with broad dynamic range

Background: Antimicrobial IgG avidity is measured in the diagnosis of infectious disease, for dating of primary infection or immunization. It is generally determined by either of two approaches, termed here the avidity index (AI) or end-point ratio (EPR), which differ in complexity and workload. While several variants of these approaches have been introduced, little comparative information exists on their clinical utility. Methods: This study was performed to systematically compare the performances of these approaches and to design a new sensitive and specific calculation method, for easy implementation in the laboratory. The avidities obtained by AI, EPR, and the newly developed approach were compared, across parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, and Epstein-Barr virus panels comprising 460 sera from individuals with a recent primary infection or long-term immunity. Results: With optimal IgG concentrations, all approaches performed equally, appropriately discriminating primary infections from past immunity (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) 0.93-0.94). However, at lower IgG concentrations, the avidity status (low, borderline, high) changed in 17% of samples using AI (AUC 0.88), as opposed to 4% using EPR (AUC 0.91) and 6% using the new method (AUC 0.93). Conclusions: The new method measures IgG avidity accurately, in a broad range of IgG levels, while the popular AI approach calls for a sufficiently high antibody concentration. (c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe