Towards a strategy for the recovering of the Mediterranean monk seal in the Adriatic-Ionian Basin

Occasional but recurrent sightings indicate that the endangered Mediterranean monk seal is still present in most of its historical range within the Adriatic-Ionian region in the central Mediterranean Sea. However, in most of the adjacent countries, the species' abundance and distribution are practically unknown. An actively reproducing sub-population with a minimum of 25 adult/sub-adult seals lives in the Greek central Ionian Sea. The latter can form a nucleus from which the entire Adriatic-Ionian Basin could be re-colonized if adequate conservation measures are implemented throughout the area and in a coordinated manner. We examine the historical presence in the region as a baseline for providing a benchmark for conservation. We further look into the species' habitat availability, possibilities for a rapid population assessment and various parameters that are considered crucial for its conservation, such as the existence of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), corridors for connectivity purposes as well as needs for raising public awareness. We recommend a series of interlinked actions within the framework of a conservation strategy the implementation of which will ensure the conditions for maintaining ecologically, demographically, and genetically viable sub-populations of this species emblematic for the entire Mediterranean Sea. To achieve this goal, a coalition of partners from this area is required in order to adopt the strategy and jointly implement the measures required

Glibenclamide inhibits BK polyomavirus infection in kidney cells through CFTR blockade

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a ubiquitous pathogen in the human population that is asymptomatic in healthy individuals, but can be life-threatening in those undergoing kidney transplant. To-date, no vaccines or anti-viral therapies are available to treat human BKPyV infections. New therapeutic strategies are urgently required. In this study, using a rational pharmacological screening regimen of known ion channel modulating compounds, we show that BKPyV requires cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity to infect primary renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. Disrupting CFTR function through treatment with the clinically available drug glibenclamide, the CFTR inhibitor CFTR172, or CFTR-silencing, all reduced BKPyV infection. Specifically, time of addition assays and the assessment of the exposure of VP2/VP3 minor capsid proteins indicated a role for CFTR during BKPyV transport to the endoplasmic reticulum, an essential step during the early stages of BKPyV infection. We thus establish CFTR as an important host-factor in the BKPyV life cycle and reveal CFTR modulators as potential anti-BKPyV therapies

"Protected" marine shelled molluscs: thriving in Greek seafood restaurants

International agreements as well as European and national legislation prohibit exploitation and trading of a number of edible marine shelled molluscs, due to either significant declines in their populations or destructive fishing practices. However, enforcement of existing legislation in Greece is ineffective and many populations of “protected” species continue to decline, mainly due to poaching. The extent of illegal trading of protected bivalves and gastropods in Greek seafood restaurants was investigated by interviewing owners or managers of 219 such restaurants in 92 localities. Interviews were based on questionnaires regarding the frequency of availability in the menus and the origin of twenty-one species or groups of species, among which eight are protected - illegally exploited. Forty-two percent of the surveyed restaurants were found to serve at least one of the protected ¬- illegally exploited species. Among the illegally traded species, Lithophaga lithophaga, Pecten jacobaeus, and Pinnanobilis were served in a relatively high proportion of the surveyed restaurants (22.8%, 19.2%, and 16.4% respectively), outrunning many commercial species. In many cases these species were always or often available (11.4%, 4.6% and 5.0% respectively). There was substantial spatial variation in the proportion of restaurants that illegally served protected species with differing patterns for each species; very high proportions of illegal trading were observed in some marine regions (e.g., date mussels were served in >65% of the seafood restaurants along the coastline of Evvoikos Gulf). In most cases the illegally traded species were of local origin, while there was no finding of illegally imported molluscs from other countries. The strategy for enforcement of existing legislation should be greatly improved otherwise protection of shelled molluscs will remain ineffective

Agnoprotein Is an Essential Egress Factor during BK Polyomavirus Infection.

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV; hereafter referred to as BK) causes a lifelong chronic infection and is associated with debilitating disease in kidney transplant recipients. Despite its importance, aspects of the virus life cycle remain poorly understood. In addition to the structural proteins, the late region of the BK genome encodes for an auxiliary protein called agnoprotein. Studies on other polyomavirus agnoproteins have suggested that the protein may contribute to virion infectivity. Here, we demonstrate an essential role for agnoprotein in BK virus release. Viruses lacking agnoprotein fail to release from host cells and do not propagate to wild-type levels. Despite this, agnoprotein is not essential for virion infectivity or morphogenesis. Instead, agnoprotein expression correlates with nuclear egress of BK virions. We demonstrate that the agnoprotein binding partner α-soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion (NSF) attachment protein (α-SNAP) is necessary for BK virion release, and siRNA knockdown of α-SNAP prevents nuclear release of wild-type BK virions. These data highlight a novel role for agnoprotein and begin to reveal the mechanism by which polyomaviruses leave an infected cell

BAP1 loss by immunohistochemistry predicts improved survival to first-line platinum and pemetrexed chemotherapy for patients with pleural mesothelioma: A validation study

Introduction: Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is an aggressive malignancy with no identified predictive biomarkers. We assessed whether tumor BAP1 status is a predictive biomarker for survival in patients receiving first-line combination platinum and pemetrexed therapy. Methods: PM cases (n = 114) from Aalborg, Denmark, were stained for BAP1 on tissue microarrays. Demographic, clinical, and survival data were extracted from registries and medical records. Surgical cases were excluded. BAP1 status was associated with overall survival (OS) by Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier methods. Results were validated in an independent cohort from Perth, Australia (n = 234). Results: BAP1 loss was found in 62% and 60.3% of all Danish and Australian samples, respectively. BAP1 loss was an independent predictor of OS in multivariate analyses corrected for histological subtype, performance status, age, sex, and treatment (hazard ratio = 2.49, p \u3c 0.001, and 1.48, p = 0.01, respectively). First-line platinum and pemetrexed-treated patients with BAP1 loss had significantly longer median survival than those with retained BAP1 in both the Danish (20.1 versus 7.3 mo, p \u3c 0.001) and Australian cohorts (19.6 versus 11.1 mo, p \u3c 0.01). Survival in patients with BAP1 retained and treated with platinum and pemetrexed was similar as in those with best supportive care. There was a higher OS in patients with best supportive care with BAP1 loss, but it was significant only in the Australian cohort (16.8 versus 8.3 mo, p \u3c 0.01). Conclusions: BAP1 is a predictive biomarker for survival after first-line combination platinum and pemetrexed chemotherapy and a potential prognostic marker in PM. BAP1 in tumor is a promising clinical tool for treatment stratification