FLN_GR_F07_narrativa_cam02

<p>Genotype specific amino acid changes when compared to the RSV/A Long strain in antigenic site ø.</p

Sequence variability of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion gene among contemporary and historical genotypes of RSV/A and RSV/B

<div><p>Background</p><p>The fusion (F) protein of RSV is the major vaccine target. This protein undergoes a conformational change from pre-fusion to post-fusion. Both conformations share antigenic sites II and IV. Pre-fusion F has unique antigenic sites p27, ø, α2α3β3β4, and MPE8; whereas, post-fusion F has unique antigenic site I. Our objective was to determine the antigenic variability for RSV/A and RSV/B isolates from contemporary and historical genotypes compared to a historical RSV/A strain.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The F sequences of isolates from GenBank, Houston, and Chile (N = 1,090) were used for this analysis. Sequences were compared pair-wise to a reference sequence, a historical RSV/A <i>Long</i> strain. Variability (calculated as %) was defined as changes at each amino acid (aa) position when compared to the reference sequence. Only aa at antigenic sites with variability ≥5% were reported.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 1,090 sequences (822 RSV/A and 268 RSV/B) were analyzed. When compared to the reference F, those domains with the greatest number of non-synonymous changes included the signal peptide, p27, heptad repeat domain 2, antigenic site ø, and the transmembrane domain. RSV/A subgroup had 7 aa changes in the antigenic sites: site I (N = 1), II (N = 1), p27 (N = 4), α2α3β3β4(AM14) (N = 1), ranging in frequency from 7–91%. In comparison, RSV/B had 19 aa changes in antigenic sites: I (N = 3), II (N = 1), p27 (N = 9), ø (N = 4), α2α3β3β4(AM14) (N = 1), and MPE8 (N = 1), ranging in frequency from 79–100%.</p><p>Discussion</p><p>Although antigenic sites of RSV F are generally well conserved, differences are observed when comparing the two subgroups to the reference RSV/A <i>Long</i> strain. Further, these discrepancies are accented in the antigenic sites in pre-fusion F of RSV/B isolates, often occurring with a frequency of 100%. This could be of importance if a monovalent F protein from the historical GA1 genotype of RSV/A is used for vaccine development.</p></div

Ataxin1L Is a Regulator of HSC Function Highlighting the Utility of Cross-Tissue Comparisons for Gene Discovery

<div><p>Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are rare quiescent cells that continuously replenish the cellular components of the peripheral blood. Observing that the ataxia-associated gene <i>Ataxin-1-like</i> (<i>Atxn1L</i>) was highly expressed in HSCs, we examined its role in HSC function through <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> assays. Mice lacking Atxn1L had greater numbers of HSCs that regenerated the blood more quickly than their wild-type counterparts. Molecular analyses indicated <i>Atxn1L</i> null HSCs had gene expression changes that regulate a program consistent with their higher level of proliferation, suggesting that <i>Atxn1L</i> is a novel regulator of HSC quiescence. To determine if additional brain-associated genes were candidates for hematologic regulation, we examined genes encoding proteins from autism- and ataxia-associated protein–protein interaction networks for their representation in hematopoietic cell populations. The interactomes were found to be highly enriched for proteins encoded by genes specifically expressed in HSCs relative to their differentiated progeny. Our data suggest a heretofore unappreciated similarity between regulatory modules in the brain and HSCs, offering a new strategy for novel gene discovery in both systems.</p> </div