27 research outputs found
Plasma proteins predict conversion to dementia from prodromal disease.
PublishedJournal ArticleMulticenter StudyResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tBACKGROUND: The study aimed to validate previously discovered plasma biomarkers associated with AD, using a design based on imaging measures as surrogate for disease severity and assess their prognostic value in predicting conversion to dementia. METHODS: Three multicenter cohorts of cognitively healthy elderly, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD participants with standardized clinical assessments and structural neuroimaging measures were used. Twenty-six candidate proteins were quantified in 1148 subjects using multiplex (xMAP) assays. RESULTS: Sixteen proteins correlated with disease severity and cognitive decline. Strongest associations were in the MCI group with a panel of 10 proteins predicting progression to AD (accuracy 87%, sensitivity 85%, and specificity 88%). CONCLUSIONS: We have identified 10 plasma proteins strongly associated with disease severity and disease progression. Such markers may be useful for patient selection for clinical trials and assessment of patients with predisease subjective memory complaints.Medical Research Council (MRC)Alzheimer’s Research UKThe National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research CentreBiomedical Research Unit for DementiaAddNeuroMed through the EU FP6 programInnovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under an EMIF grantEuropean Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013
Micro-CT study of male genitalia and reproductive system of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 (Insecta: Hemiptera, Liviidae)
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, is a major vector of the bacteria Candidatus
Liberibacter asiaticus and C.L. americanus, which cause Huanglongbing disease (HLB)
(aka Citrus greening disease), considered the most serious bacterial disease of citrus trees.
As part of a multidisciplinary project on psyllid biology (www.citrusgreening.org), the results
presented here concern a detailed anatomical study of the male reproductive system (testes,
seminal vesicles, accessory glands, sperm pump, connecting ducts, and aedeagus)
using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The study summarizes current knowledge
on psyllids male reproductive system and represents significant advances in the knowledge
of ACP anatomy.This work was supported by USDA-NIFA
Award 2014-70016-23028 ÂŞDeveloping an
Infrastructure and Product Test Pipeline to Deliver
Novel Therapies for Citrus Greening DiseaseÂş,
2015-2020
Anatomical study of the female reproductive system and bacteriome of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, (Insecta: Hemiptera, Liviidae) using micro-computed tomography
Huanglongbing (HLB) (citrus greening disease) is one of the most serious bacterial diseases of citrus. It
is caused by (1) Candidatus Liberibacter africanus, transmitted by Trioza erytreae and (2) C.L. asiaticus
and C.L. americanus, transmitted by Diaphorina citri. As part of a multidisciplinary project on D. citri
(www.citrusgreening.org), we made a detailed study, using micro-computed tomography, of the female
abdominal terminalia, reproductive system (ovaries, accessory glands, spermatheca, colleterial (=
cement) gland, connecting ducts, and ovipositor) and bacteriome, which we present here. New terms
and structures are introduced and described, particularly concerning the spermatheca, ovipositor and
bacteriome. The quality of images and bacteriome reconstructions are comparable, or clearer, than
those previously published using a synchrotron or fuorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). This study:
reviews knowledge of the female reproductive system and bacteriome organ in D. citri; represents
the frst detailed morphological study of D. citri to use micro-CT; and extensively revises existing
morphological information relevant to psylloids, hemipterans and insects in general. High quality
images and supplementary videos represent a signifcant advance in knowledge of psylloid anatomy
and are useful tools for future research and as educational aids.Kansas State University (KSU)
S15192.01University of Granada, USDA-NIFA
S15192.01
2014-70016-2302
RA-MAP, molecular immunological landscapes in early rheumatoid arthritis and healthy vaccine recipients
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with poorly defined aetiology characterised by synovial inflammation with variable disease severity and drug responsiveness. To investigate the peripheral blood immune cell landscape of early, drug naive RA, we performed comprehensive clinical and molecular profiling of 267 RA patients and 52 healthy vaccine recipients for up to 18 months to establish a high quality sample biobank including plasma, serum, peripheral blood cells, urine, genomic DNA, RNA from whole blood, lymphocyte and monocyte subsets. We have performed extensive multi-omic immune phenotyping, including genomic, metabolomic, proteomic, transcriptomic and autoantibody profiling. We anticipate that these detailed clinical and molecular data will serve as a fundamental resource offering insights into immune-mediated disease pathogenesis, progression and therapeutic response, ultimately contributing to the development and application of targeted therapies for RA.</p