37 research outputs found
NEW CUCUMOVIRUS ON BEANS IN BULGARIA \u96 AN ATTEMPT FOR CHARACTERIZATION
A virus was isolated from naturally infected bean plants, grown in
different areas in Bulgaria. The investigated isolates were
characterized using electron microscopy, serology, biological tests,
electrophoretic analysis and reverse transcription-poly-merase chain
reaction (RT-PCR). Isometric particles about 30 nm in diameter were
observed in crude sap preparations. The tested isolates were
serologically distantly related to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) but in
ELISA experiments and immunoelectrophoresis they demonstrated a close
serological relationship with a cucumovirus from China named Ch 39. The
Bulgarian isolates were identified as a cucumovirus Ch 39-BG. The
electrophoretic analysis of this virus showed the presence of two
protein bands. CMV primers amplified an unspecific DNA fragment of 500
bp. All the performed investigations suggested the presence of a
cucumovirus closer to CMV though different from the known CMV strains
The Worm-Specific Immune Response in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Controlled Trichuris suis Ova Immunotherapy
Considering their potent immunomodulatory properties, therapeutic applications of Trichuris suis ova (TSO) are studied as potential alternative treatment of autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Clinical phase 1 and 2 studies have demonstrated TSO treatment to be safe and well tolerated in MS patients, however, they reported only modest clinical efficacy. We therefore addressed the cellular and humoral immune responses directed against parasite antigens in individual MS patients receiving controlled TSO treatment (2500 TSO p.o. every 2 weeks for 12 month). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of MS patients treated with TSO (n = 5) or placebo (n = 6) were analyzed. A continuous increase of serum IgG and IgE antibodies specific for T. suis excretory/secretory antigens was observed up to 12 months post-treatment. This was consistent with mass cytometry analysis identifying an increase of activated HLA-DRhigh plasmablast frequencies in TSO-treated patients. While stable and comparable frequencies of total CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were detected in placebo and TSO-treated patients over time, we observed an increase of activated HLA-DR+CD4+ T cells in TSO-treated patients only. Frequencies of Gata3+ Th2 cells and Th1/Th2 ratios remained stable during TSO treatment, while Foxp3+ Treg frequencies varied greatly between individuals. Using a T. suis antigen-specific T cell expansion assay, we also detected patient-to-patient variation of antigen-specific T cell recall responses and cytokine production. In summary, MS patients receiving TSO treatment established a T. suis-specific T- and B-cell response, however, with varying degrees of T cell responses and cellular functionality across individuals, which might account for the overall miscellaneous clinical efficacy in the studied patients
Recommended from our members
MSL2 variants lead to a neurodevelopmental syndrome with lack of coordination, epilepsy, specific dysmorphisms, and a distinct episignature.
Epigenetic dysregulation has emerged as an important etiological mechanism of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Pathogenic variation in epigenetic regulators can impair deposition of histone post-translational modifications leading to aberrant spatiotemporal gene expression during neurodevelopment. The male-specific lethal (MSL) complex is a prominent multi-subunit epigenetic regulator of gene expression and is responsible for histone 4 lysine 16 acetylation (H4K16ac). Using exome sequencing, here we identify a cohort of 25 individuals with heterozygous de novo variants in MSL complex member MSL2. MSL2 variants were associated with NDD phenotypes including global developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, and motor issues such as coordination problems, feeding difficulties, and gait disturbance. Dysmorphisms and behavioral and/or psychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, and to a lesser extent, seizures, connective tissue disease signs, sleep disturbance, vision problems, and other organ anomalies, were observed in affected individuals. As a molecular biomarker, a sensitive and specific DNA methylation episignature has been established. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from three members of our cohort exhibited reduced MSL2 levels. Remarkably, while NDD-associated variants in two other members of the MSL complex (MOF and MSL3) result in reduced H4K16ac, global H4K16ac levels are unchanged in iPSCs with MSL2 variants. Regardless, MSL2 variants altered the expression of MSL2 targets in iPSCs and upon their differentiation to early germ layers. Our study defines an MSL2-related disorder as an NDD with distinguishable clinical features, a specific blood DNA episignature, and a distinct, MSL2-specific molecular etiology compared to other MSL complex-related disorders
RORγt + Treg to Th17 ratios correlate with susceptibility to Giardia infection
Funder: Fundacion Alfonso Martin EscuderoFunder: RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000268Funder: Isaac Newton Trust; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100004815Abstract: Infections with Giardia are among the most common causes of food and water-borne diarrheal disease worldwide. Here, we investigated Th17, Treg and IgA responses, and alterations in gut microbiota in two mouse lines with varying susceptibility to Giardia muris infection. Infected BALB/c mice shed significantly more cysts compared with C57BL/6 mice. Impaired control of infection in BALB/c mice was associated with lower Th17 activity and lower IgA levels compared with C57BL/6 mice. The limited metabolic activity, proliferation and cytokine production of Th17 cells in BALB/c mice was associated with higher proportions of intestinal Foxp3+RORγt+ regulatory T cells and BALB/c mice developed increased RORγt+ Treg:Th17 ratios in response to G. muris infection. Furthermore, G. muris colonization led to a significantly reduced evenness in the gut microbial communities of BALB/c mice. Our data indicate that differential susceptibility to Giardia infections may be related to RORγt+ Treg controlling Th17 activity and that changes in the microbiota composition upon Giardia infection partially depend on the host background
Reasons for facebook usage: Data from 46 countries
Seventy-nine percent of internet users use Facebook, and on average they access Facebook eight times a day (Greenwood et al., 2016). To put these numbers into perspective, according to Clement (2019), around 30% of the world\u2019s population uses this Online Social Network (OSN) site. Despite the constantly growing body of academic research on Facebook (Chou et al., 2009; Back et al., 2010; Kaplan and Haenlein, 2010; McAndrew and Jeong, 2012; Wilson et al., 2012; Krasnova et al., 2017), there remains limited research regarding the motivation behind Facebook use across different cultures. Our main goal was to collect data from a large cross-cultural sample of Facebook users to examine the roles of sex, age, and, most importantly, cultural differences underlying Facebook use
Sex differences in mate preferences across 45 countries: A large-scale replication
Considerable research has examined human mate preferences across cultures, finding universal sex differences in preferences for attractiveness and resources as well as sources of systematic cultural variation. Two competing perspectives—an evolutionary psychological perspective and a biosocial role perspective—offer alternative explanations for these findings. However, the original data on which each perspective relies are decades old, and the literature is fraught with conflicting methods, analyses, results, and conclusions. Using a new 45-country sample (N = 14,399), we attempted to replicate classic studies and test both the evolutionary and biosocial role perspectives. Support for universal sex differences in preferences remains robust: Men, more than women, prefer attractive, young mates, and women, more than men, prefer older mates with financial prospects. Cross-culturally, both sexes have mates closer to their own ages as gender equality increases. Beyond age of partner, neither pathogen prevalence nor gender equality robustly predicted sex differences or preferences across countries
Combination Therapies with PRRT
Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is a successful targeted radionuclide therapy in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, complete responses remain elusive. Combined treatments anticipate synergistic effects and thus better responses by combining ionizing radiation with other anti-tumor treatments. Furthermore, multimodal therapies often have a balanced toxicity profile. To date, few studies have evaluated the effect of combination therapies with PRRT, some of them phase I/II trials. This review will focus on several clinically tested, tailored approaches to improving the effects of PRRT. The aim is to help clinicians in the treatment planning of NETs to choose the most effective and safe treatment for each patient in the sense of personalized medicine. Current promising combination partners of PRRT are somatostatin analogues (SSAs), chemotherapy, molecular targeted treatment, liver radioembolization, and dual radionuclide PRRT (Lutetium-177-PRRT combined with Yttrium-90-PRRT)
Advances in Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy of Neuroendocrine Tumors
Neuroendocrine neoplasms make up a heterogeneous group of tumors with inter-patient and intra-patient variabilities. Molecular imaging can help to identify and characterize neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Furthermore, imaging and treatment with novel theranostics agents offers a new, tailored approach to managing NETs. Recent advances in the management of NETs aim to enhance the effectiveness of targeted treatment with either modifications of known substances or the development of new substances with better targeting features. There have been several attempts to increase the detectability of NET lesions via positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and improvements in pretreatment planning using dosimetry. Especially notable is PET imaging with the radionuclide Copper-64. Increasing interest is also being paid to theranostics of grade 3 and purely differentiated NETs, for example, via targeting of the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). The aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant recent studies, which present promising new agents in molecular imaging and therapy for NETs, novel combination therapies and new applications of existing molecular imaging modalities in nuclear medicine
New cucumovirus on beans in Bulgaria- An attempt for Characterization
A virus was isolated from naturally infected bean plants, grown in
different areas in Bulgaria. The investigated isolates were
characterized using electron microscopy, serology, biological tests,
electrophoretic analysis and reverse transcription-poly-merase chain
reaction (RT-PCR). Isometric particles about 30 nm in diameter were
observed in crude sap preparations. The tested isolates were
serologically distantly related to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) but in
ELISA experiments and immunoelectrophoresis they demonstrated a close
serological relationship with a cucumovirus from China named Ch 39. The
Bulgarian isolates were identified as a cucumovirus Ch 39-BG. The
electrophoretic analysis of this virus showed the presence of two
protein bands. CMV primers amplified an unspecific DNA fragment of 500
bp. All the performed investigations suggested the presence of a
cucumovirus closer to CMV though different from the known CMV strains
MANAGEMENT OF COMPLEX RESERVOIRS UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS
In terms of climate change and extreme events, the role of the complex water systems and dams management is increasing. Except for the preservation of stored water volumes to ensure reliable water supply and irrigation, maintaining high levels for effective power generation and to ensure the ecological minimum, the use of dams performs also the function for flood protection. In order to improve the complex and significant (Annex 1 of Water Law) reservoir management, in NIMH has initiated a phased development of a decision-making support system with the appropriate modules. The models, by assessing the current situation, needs and expectations of incoming runoff, enable to give relevant recommendations for solutions. Despite the diversity of situations, the recommendations for decision are synonymous to operate at expected high water as well as in drought conditions