Vaccination shapes evolutionary trajectories of SARS-CoV-2

The large-scale evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been marked by rapid turnover of genetic clades. New variants show intrinsic changes, notably increased transmissibility, as well as antigenic changes that reduce the cross-immunity induced by previous infections or vaccinations. How this functional variation shapes the global evolutionary dynamics has remained unclear. Here we show that selection induced by vaccination impacts on the recent antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2; other relevant forces include intrinsic selection and antigenic selection induced by previous infections. We obtain these results from a fitness model with intrinsic and antigenic fitness components. To infer model parameters, we combine time-resolved sequence data, epidemiological records, and cross-neutralisation assays. This model accurately captures the large-scale evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in multiple geographical regions. In particular, it quantifies how recent vaccinations and infections affect the speed of frequency shifts between viral variants. Our results show that timely neutralisation data can be harvested to identify hotspots of antigenic selection and to predict the impact of vaccination on viral evolution

Altered gene-expression profile in rat plasma and promoted body and brain development by environmental enrichment

Environmental enrichment (EE) refers to the exposure of laboratory animals to physical and social stimulation, which can improve animals’ well-being. The study was aimed to explore how the prenatal EE impacts affect the development, behavior, hormones and gene expression of the offspring. 28 pregnant rats were randomized into an EE group (EEG) housed in cages with EE or a control group (CG) housed in normal cages. Measurements included offspring development parameters (body weight, body length, and tail length) and behavior (open-field test, OFT), hormone levels (cortisol, dopamine, 5-HT, and growth hormone) and gene expression profile. Results showed that the development parameters of EEG offspring were statistically superior to the CG offspring. OFT count of EEG offspring was more than CG. EEG and CG offspring did not differ on cortisol, dopamine, 5-HT or growth factor. Gene expression profile chip test showed that 25 genes were up-regulated and 23 genes down-regulated in the EEG vs CG comparison, among which five GO annotations and four KEGG pathways were annotated. Findings indicate that EE during pregnancy could positively promote the body and nervous system development of offspring, involving the evidence for altered gene expression profile.Keywords: Environmental enrichment, rats, gene expression, behavior, developmentAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(20), pp. 3071-308

Genes Underlying Positive Influence Of Prenatal Environmental Enrichment And Negative Influence Of Prenatal Earthquake Simulation And Corrective Influence Of Chinese Herbalmedicine On Rat Offspring: Irf7 And Ninj2

Background: Prenatal environmental enrichment (EE) has been proven to positively affect but prenatal stress negatively influence the physiological and psychological processes in animals, whose trans-generational genetic mechanism remains unclearly defined. We aimed to investigate and find out key genes underlying the positive-negative effects derived from prenatal interventions.Materials and Methods: Pregnant rats were randomized into EE group (EEG), earthquake simulation group (ESG), herbal group (HG) received herbal supplements in feed after earthquake simulation, and control group (CG).Results: Light Box Defecation Test (LBDT) showed EEG offspring presented less fecal pellets than CG offspring, ESG’s more than CG’s, and HG’s less than ESG (p’s<0.05). Open-field Test (OFT) score of EEG was higher than CG offspring, of ESG’s was lower than CG’s, and HG’s higher than ESG’s. Irf7 and Ninj were screened, which were up-regulated in EEG, down-regulated in ESG (FC<0.5), and were neutralized in HG. Prenatal EE could positively promote the nervous system development, prenatal earthquake simulation could retard the nervous system development and Chinese herbal remedy (JKSQW) which could correct the retardation.Conclusion: The negative-positive prenatal effect could contribute to altered gene expression of Irf7 and Ninj2 which also could play a key role in the improving function of JKSQWfor the kidneys.Keywords: Prenatal stress; Earthquake simulation; Light Box Defecation Test; Open-field Test; Irf7; Ninj

From Epigenetic Associations to Biological and Psychosocial Explanations in Mental Health

The development of mental disorders constitutes a complex phenomenon driven by unique social, psychological and biological factors such as genetics and epigenetics, throughout an individual's life course. Both environmental and genetic factors have an impact on mental health phenotypes and act simultaneously to induce changes in brain and behavior. Here, we describe and critically evaluate the current literature on gene-environment interactions and epigenetics on mental health by highlighting recent human and animal studies. We furthermore review some of the main ethical and social implications concerning gene-environment interactions and epigenetics and provide explanations and suggestions on how to move from statistical and epigenetic associations to biological and psychological explanations within a multi-disciplinary and integrative approach of understanding mental health

Multiple viewpoint rendering for three-dimensional displays

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Media Arts & Sciences, 1997.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-164).Michael W. Halle.Ph.D

Stress Exposure in Significant Relationships Is Associated with Lymph Node Status in Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVE:Life stress exposure may impact on health and disease. Previous literature showed that stressful life events are associated with cancer incidence, survival and mortality. In animal models, patterns of maternal care have been shown to critically affect stress sensitivity and immunity trajectories later in life, by modifying DNA methylation during critical periods early in life. However, the role of parental care in breast cancer progression and survival has only limitedly been explored. Here, we investigated whether these factors may be linked to biological prognostic variables. METHODS:One hundred twenty-three women hospitalized for surgery of primary breast cancer completed a questionnaire assessing parental bonding. Stressful events throughout the life span were also assessed. RESULTS:We found that the absence of optimal parental relationships is significantly associated with an increased risk of lymph node involvement, adjusting for confounders, while cumulative stress in the area of sentimental relationships is borderline significantly associated with the same prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS:Our results suggest that parental bonding and sentimental relations may have a role in breast cancer progression. These variables represent an important evolutionary aspect which may modulate cancer progression through psycho-physiological stress pathways and influence the immune system