Targeting malaria transmission: erythrocyte remodeling by Plasmodium falciparum in gametocyte-host interplay

Contains fulltext : 127238.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, 10 juni 2014Promotor : Sauerwein, R.W. Co-promotor : Alano, P

AFM Calculated Parameters of Morphology Investigation of Spin Coated MZO (M = Al, Sn, Cd, Co) Layers

This paper reports on the deposition and surface properties of the pure and doped zinc oxide layers produced by spin coating route. Pure and metallic (Al, Sn, Cd, Co) doped ZnO films are characterized by mean of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Based on atomic force microscope observation, some parameters such as grain size, height, orientation of angle and histogram are determined. The AFM scanned 2D and 3D-views permit us to discover the roughness, the average height and the skewness of clusters or grains

AFM Calculated Parameters of Morphology Investigation of Spin Coated MZO (M = Al, Sn, Cd, Co) Layers

This paper reports on the deposition and surface properties of the pure and doped zinc oxide layers produced by spin coating route. Pure and metallic (Al, Sn, Cd, Co) doped ZnO films are characterized by mean of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Based on atomic force microscope observation, some parameters such as grain size, height, orientation of angle and histogram are determined. The AFM scanned 2D and 3D-views permit us to discover the roughness, the average height and the skewness of clusters or grains

Accelerated Test Development for Coil-coated Steel Building Panels

This paper discusses the experimental design and the preliminary findings of an ongoing project designed to establish an accelerated laboratory test that would rank coating system performance the same as their performance in atmospheric exposure. A total of ten materials are included in the program: four substrates each with two coating systems and one substrate with two additional coating systems. Samples were installed at four atmospheric exposure sites: Middletown, OH, Daytona Beach, FL, Monroeville, PA, and Halifax, NS, Canada. Three different orientations were utilized at each of the exposure sites and a variety of building panel features were included on the test panels (roll formed bends, laps, cut drip edges, standing seam closures, and scribes). The work discussed in this paper includes the program design and implementation and preliminary correlation\u27s of the three-year atmospheric exposure results to several standard accelerated test methods including: ASTM B117, ASTM G85, ASTM G87, and GM 9540

Extracellular spermine triggers a rapid intracellular phosphatidic acid response in arabidopsis, involving PLDδ activation and stimulating ion flux

Polyamines, such as putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm), are low-molecular-weight polycationic molecules found in all living organisms. Despite the fact that they have been implicated in various important developmental and adaptative processes, their mode of action is still largely unclear. Here, we report that Put, Spd, and Spm trigger a rapid increase in the signaling lipid, phosphatidic acid (PA) in Arabidopsis seedlings but also mature leaves. Using time-course and dose-response experiments, Spm was found to be the most effective; promoting PA responses at physiological (low μM) concentrations. In seedlings, the increase of PA occurred mainly in the root and partly involved the plasma membrane polyamine-uptake transporter (PUT), RMV1. Using a differential 32Pi-labeling strategy combined with transphosphatidylation assays and T-DNA insertion mutants, we found that phospholipase D (PLD), and in particular PLDδ was the main contributor of the increase in PA. Measuring non-invasive ion fluxes (MIFE) across the root plasma membrane of wild type and pldδ-mutant seedlings, revealed that the formation of PA is linked to a gradual- and transient efflux of K+. Potential mechanisms of how PLDδ and the increase of PA are involved in polyamine function is discussed

HIV Care Providers’ Role Legitimacy as Supporters of Their Patients’ Alcohol Reduction

Although HIV care providers are strategically situated to support their patients’ alcohol reduction efforts, many do not do so, sometimes failing to view this support as consistent with their roles. Using data collected from 112 HIV providers in 7 hospital-based HIV Care Centers in the NYC metropolitan area, this paper examines the correlates of providers’ role legitimacy as patients’ alcohol reduction supporters. Results indicate that providers (1) responsible for a very large number of patients and (2) with limited confidence in their own ability to give this assistance, but high confidence intheir program’s ability to do so, were less likely to have a high level of role legitimacy as patients’ alcohol reduction supporters. Findings suggest the types of providers to target for alcohol reduction support training

Aminopropyltransferases Involved in Polyamine Biosynthesis Localize Preferentially in the Nucleus of Plant Cells

Plant aminopropyltransferases consist of a group of enzymes that transfer aminopropyl groups derived from decarboxylated S-adenosyl-methionine (dcAdoMet or dcSAM) to propylamine acceptors to produce polyamines, ubiquitous metabolites with positive charge at physiological pH. Spermidine synthase (SPDS) uses putrescine as amino acceptor to form spermidine, whereas spermine synthase (SPMS) and thermospermine synthase (TSPMS) use spermidine as acceptor to synthesize the isomers spermine and thermospermine respectively. In previous work it was shown that both SPDS1 and SPDS2 can physically interact with SPMS although no data concerning the subcellular localization was reported. Here we study the subcellular localization of these enzymes and their protein dimer complexes with gateway-based Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) binary vectors. In addition, we have characterized the molecular weight of the enzyme complexes by gel filtration chromatography with in vitro assembled recombinant enzymes and with endogenous plant protein extracts. Our data suggest that aminopropyltransferases display a dual subcellular localization both in the cytosol and nuclear enriched fractions, and they assemble preferably as dimers. The BiFC transient expression data suggest that aminopropyltransferase heterodimer complexes take place preferentially inside the nucleus

cAMP-Signalling Regulates Gametocyte-Infected Erythrocyte Deformability Required for Malaria Parasite Transmission.

Blocking Plasmodium falciparum transmission to mosquitoes has been designated a strategic objective in the global agenda of malaria elimination. Transmission is ensured by gametocyte-infected erythrocytes (GIE) that sequester in the bone marrow and at maturation are released into peripheral blood from where they are taken up during a mosquito blood meal. Release into the blood circulation is accompanied by an increase in GIE deformability that allows them to pass through the spleen. Here, we used a microsphere matrix to mimic splenic filtration and investigated the role of cAMP-signalling in regulating GIE deformability. We demonstrated that mature GIE deformability is dependent on reduced cAMP-signalling and on increased phosphodiesterase expression in stage V gametocytes, and that parasite cAMP-dependent kinase activity contributes to the stiffness of immature gametocytes. Importantly, pharmacological agents that raise cAMP levels in transmissible stage V gametocytes render them less deformable and hence less likely to circulate through the spleen. Therefore, phosphodiesterase inhibitors that raise cAMP levels in P. falciparum infected erythrocytes, such as sildenafil, represent new candidate drugs to block transmission of malaria parasites

Diseño y desarrollo de materiales interactivos y multimedia en el máster universitario educación y museos: patrimonio, identidad y mediación cultural (Emus)

[SPA]Esta comunicación tiene como finalidad presentar el Máster Universitario en “Educación y Museos. Patrimonio, Identidad y Mediación Cultural” (eMus) por la Universidad de Murcia (España). Se trata de una experiencia docente innovadora para la que se han diseñado contenidos multimedia y materiales interactivos que facilitan a los estudiantes su aprendizaje. Este título, iniciado durante el curso 2010-2011, ha sido patrocinado por el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación del Gobierno de España a través de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID). Se imparte mediante una “enseñanza virtual” apoyada en el uso de redes telemáticas. Está alojado en la nueva plataforma institucional que la Universidad de Murcia ha desarrollado experimentalmente durante el curso 2010-2011 y que se ha basado en la plataforma de software libre Sakai. El máster consta de 60 ECTS, tiene una orientación científico investigadora, constituye el período formativo del programa de Doctorado Educación y Museos: Patrimonio, Identiad y Mediación Cultural, que recientemente ha recibido de la Mediteranean Office for Youth (OMJ) la mención de excelencia. [ENG]The purpose of this communication is to present the Master’s Degree and PhD Program in “Education and Museums. Heritage, Identity and Cultural Mediation” (eMus) by the University of Murcia (Spain). This is an innovative educational experience for what we have designed multimedia and interactive materials to facilitate students learning. This university degree, started during the 2010-2011 academic year, have been sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from the Government of Spain through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). It is taught through "virtual education" supported by the use of telematic networks. It takes place on the new institutional e-learning platform which the University of Murcia has developed experimentally during the 2010-2011 academic year and is based on the Sakai open source platform. The master’s degree has 60 credits, a research orientation and belongs to the formative period of the PhD program in Education and Museums: Heritage, Identity and Cultural Mediation, which has recently received the Mediterranean Office for Youth (OMJ) excellence label.Campus Mare Nostrum, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Universidad de Murcia, Región de Murci