Vertically transmitted microbiome protects eggs from fungal infection and egg failure

Background

Beneficial microbes can be vertically transmitted from mother to offspring in many organisms. In oviparous animals, bacterial transfer to eggs may improve egg success by inhibiting fungal attachment and infection from pathogenic microbes in the nest environment. Vertical transfer of these egg-protective bacteria may be facilitated through behavioral mechanisms such as egg-tending, but many species do not provide parental care. Thus, an important mechanism of vertical transfer may be the passage of the egg through the maternal cloaca during oviposition itself. In this study, we examined how oviposition affects eggshell microbial communities, fungal attachment, hatch success, and offspring phenotype in the striped plateau lizard, Sceloporus virgatus, a species with no post-oviposition parental care.

Results

Relative to dissected eggs that did not pass through the cloaca, oviposited eggs had more bacteria and fewer fungal hyphae when examined with a scanning electron microscope. Using high throughput Illumina sequencing, we also found a difference in the bacterial communities of eggshells that did and did not pass through the cloaca, and the diversity of eggshell communities tended to correlate with maternal cloacal diversity only for oviposited eggs, and not for dissected eggs, indicating that vertical transmission of microbes is occurring. Further, we found that oviposited eggs had greater hatch success and led to larger offspring than those that were dissected.

Conclusions

Overall, our results indicate that female S. virgatus lizards transfer beneficial microbes from their cloaca onto their eggs during oviposition, and that these microbes reduce fungal colonization and infection of eggs during incubation and increase female fitness. Cloacal transfer of egg-protective bacteria may be common among oviparous species, and may be especially advantageous to species that lack parental care.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-021-00104-5.

Hemispheric asymmetry in ocean change and the productivity of ecosystem sentinels

Climate change and other human activities are causing profound effects on marine ecosystem productivity. We show that the breeding success of seabirds is tracking hemispheric differences in ocean warming and human impacts, with the strongest effects on fish-eating, surface-foraging species in the north. Hemispheric asymmetry suggests the need for ocean management at hemispheric scales. For the north, tactical, climate-based recovery plans for forage fish resources are needed to recover seabird breeding productivity. In the south, lower-magnitude change in seabird productivity presents opportunities for strategic management approaches such as large marine protected areas to sustain food webs and maintain predator productivity. Global monitoring of seabird productivity enables the detection of ecosystem change in remote regions and contributes to our understanding of marine climate impacts on ecosystems.

Global political responsibility for the conservation of albatrosses and large petrels

Migratory marine species cross political borders and enter the high seas, where the lack of an effective global management framework for biodiversity leaves them vulnerable to threats. Here, we combine 10,108 tracks from 5775 individual birds at 87 sites with data on breeding population sizes to estimate the relative year-round importance of national jurisdictions and high seas areas for 39 species of albatrosses and large petrels. Populations from every country made extensive use of the high seas, indicating the stake each country has in the management of biodiversity in international waters. We quantified the links among national populations of these threatened seabirds and the regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) which regulate fishing in the high seas. This work makes explicit the relative responsibilities that each country and RFMO has for the management of shared biodiversity, providing invaluable information for the conservation and management of migratory species in the marine realm.

Evaluation of Pirfenidone and Nintedanib in a Human Lung Model of Fibrogenesis

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal lung disease with a poor prognosis and increasing incidence. Pirfenidone and nintedanib are the only approved treatments for IPF but have limited efficacy and their mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Here we have examined the effects of pirfenidone and nintedanib in a human model of lung fibrogenesis, and compared these with the putative anti-fibrotic compounds Lipoxin A4 (LXA4), and senicapoc, a K_Ca3.1 ion channel blocker. Methods: Early fibrosis was induced in cultured human lung parenchyma using TGFβ1 for 7 days, ± pirfenidone, nintedanib, or LXA4. Pro-fibrotic responses were examined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and soluble collagen secretion. Results: Thirty six out of eighty four IPF and fibrosis-associated genes tested were significantly upregulated by TGFβ1 in human lung parenchyma with a ≥0.5 log2FC (n = 32). Nintedanib (n = 13) reduced the mRNA expression of 14 fibrosis-associated genes including MMPs (MMP1,-4,-13,-14), integrin α2, CXCR4 and PDGFB, but upregulated α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA). Pirfenidone only reduced mRNA expression for MMP3 and -13. Senicapoc (n = 11) previously attenuated the expression of 28 fibrosis-associated genes, including αSMA, several growth factors, collagen type III, and αV/β6 integrins. Pirfenidone and nintedanib significantly inhibited TGFβ1-induced fibroblast proliferation within the tissue, but unlike senicapoc, neither pirfenidone nor nintedanib prevented increases in tissue αSMA expression. LXA4 was ineffective. Conclusions: Pirfenidone and nintedanib demonstrate modest anti-fibrotic effects and provide a benchmark for anti-fibrotic activity of new drugs in human lung tissue. Based on these data, we predict that the K_Ca3.1 blocker senicapoc will show greater benefit than either of these licensed drugs in IPF.

Prevalence of IgY antibodies against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in a critically endangered parrot (kakapo, Strigops habroptilus) and associated responses to vaccination

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to estimate levels of IgY antibody against the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in serum samples collected from the critically endangered kakapo (Strigops habroptilus, Psittaciformes, Aves) before and after vaccination against this bacterium. Relative IgY antibody titres in pre-vaccination serum samples (n = 71 individual kakapo) were normally distributed with the exception of four outliers which displayed low IgY levels. Notably all four low IgY samples were collected from fledglings 3 - 6 months old. Pre-vaccination serum samples from nine nestlings <3 months old, seven of which were hatched in incubators and had no contact with either adult kakapo or their natural environment (e.g. soil), were found to have relatively high IgY levels, suggesting transfer of maternal IgY molecules to fledglings via the yolk. IgY levels in pre-vaccination serum samples from seven kakapo aged 25 - 30 months were also relatively high, suggesting that most kakapo naturally acquire anti- E.rhusiopathiae IgYs within their first 2 years. There was no evidence that vaccination increased the kakapo population's mean anti-E.rhusiopathiae IgY levels. However, there was a significant negative relationship between an individual bird's pre-vaccination IgY level and any subsequent increase following vaccination, suggesting that vaccination may only raise the IgY levels of birds with relatively low pre-vaccination IgY levels. A statistical model of the relationship between 'death from erysipelas' and sex, age and transfer from one to island sanctuary to another found that only transfer was significantly associated with death from erysipelas.

Breast cancer risk and 6q22.33: combined results from Breast Cancer Association Consortium and Consortium of Investigators on Modifiers of BRCA1/2

Recently, a locus on chromosome 6q22.33 (rs2180341) was reported to be associated with increased breast cancer risk in the Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) population, and this association was also observed in populations of non-AJ European ancestry. In the present study, we performed a large replication analysis of rs2180341 using data from 31,428 invasive breast cancer cases and 34,700 controls collected from 25 studies in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC). In addition, we evaluated whether rs2180341 modifies breast cancer risk in 3,361 BRCA1 and 2,020 BRCA2 carriers from 11 centers in the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA). Based on the BCAC data from women of European ancestry, we found evidence for a weak association with breast cancer risk for rs2180341 (per-allele odds ratio (OR) = 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.06, p = 0.023). There was evidence for heterogeneity in the ORs among studies (I(2) = 49.3%; p = <0.004). In CIMBA, we observed an inverse association with the minor allele of rs2180341 and breast cancer risk in BRCA1 mutation carriers (per-allele OR = 0.89, 95%CI 0.80-1.00, p = 0.048), indicating a potential protective effect of this allele. These data suggest that that 6q22.33 confers a weak effect on breast cancer risk.

11q13 is a susceptibility locus for hormone receptor positive breast cancer

A recent two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified five novel breast cancer susceptibility loci on chromosomes 9, 10, and 11. To provide more reliable estimates of the relative risk associated with these loci and investigate possible heterogeneity by subtype of breast cancer, we genotyped the variants rs2380205, rs1011970, rs704010, rs614367, and rs10995190 in 39 studies from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC), involving 49,608 cases and 48,772 controls of predominantly European ancestry. Four of the variants showed clear evidence of association (P ≤ 3 × 10(-9) ) and weak evidence was observed for rs2380205 (P = 0.06). The strongest evidence was obtained for rs614367, located on 11q13 (per-allele odds ratio 1.21, P = 4 × 10(-39) ). The association for rs614367 was specific to estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease and strongest for ER plus progesterone receptor (PR)-positive breast cancer, whereas the associations for the other three loci did not differ by tumor subtype.

Fine-mapping CASP8 risk variants in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Multiple genome-wide and candidate gene association studies have been conducted in search of common risk variants for breast cancer. Recent large meta analyses, consolidating evidence from these studies, have been consistent in highlighting the caspase-8 (CASP8) gene as important in this regard. To define a risk haplotype and map the CASP8 gene region with respect to underlying susceptibility variant/s, we screened four genes in the CASP8 region on 2q33-q34 for breast cancer risk.

METHODS

Two independent data sets from the United Kingdom and the United States, including 3,888 breast cancer cases and controls, were genotyped for 45 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNP) in the expanded CASP8 region. SNP and haplotype association tests were carried out using Monte Carlo-based methods.

RESULTS

We identified a three-SNP haplotype across rs3834129, rs6723097, and rs3817578 that was significantly associated with breast cancer (P < 5 × 10(-6)), with a dominant risk ratio and 95% CI of 1.28 (1.21-1.35) and frequency of 0.29 in controls. Evidence for this risk haplotype was extremely consistent across the two study sites and also consistent with previous data.

CONCLUSION

This three-SNP risk haplotype represents the best characterization so far of the chromosome upon which the susceptibility variant resides.

IMPACT

Characterization of the risk haplotype provides a strong foundation for resequencing efforts to identify the underlying risk variant, which may prove useful for individual-level risk prediction, and provide novel insights into breast carcinogenesis.

7q21-rs6964587 and breast cancer risk: an extended case-control study by the Breast Cancer Association Consortium

BACKGROUND

Using the Breast Cancer Association Consortium, the authors previously reported that the single nucleotide polymorphism 7q21-rs6964587 (AKAP9-M463I) is associated with breast cancer risk. The authors have now assessed this association more comprehensively using 16 independent case-control studies.

METHODS

The authors genotyped 14,843 invasive case patients and 19,852 control subjects with white European ancestry and 2595 invasive case patients and 2192 control subjects with Asian ancestry. ORs were estimated by logistic regression, adjusted for study. Heterogeneity in ORs was assessed by fitting interaction terms or by subclassifying case patients and applying polytomous logistic regression.

RESULTS

For white European women, the minor T allele of 7q21-rs6964587 was associated with breast cancer risk under a recessive model (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.13, p = 0.04). Results were inconclusive for Asian women. From a combined analysis of 24 154 case patients and 33,376 control subjects of white European ancestry from the present and previous series, the best-fitting model was recessive, with an estimated OR of 1.08 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.13, p = 0.001). The OR was greater at younger ages (p trend = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This may be the first common susceptibility allele for breast cancer to be identified with a recessive mode of inheritance.

Missense variants in ATM in 26,101 breast cancer cases and 29,842 controls

BACKGROUND

Truncating mutations in ATM have been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer but the effect of missense variants remains contentious.

METHODS

We have genotyped five polymorphic (minor allele frequency, 0.9-2.6%) missense single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in ATM (S49C, S707P, F858L, P1054R, and L1420F) in 26,101 breast cancer cases and 29,842 controls from 23 studies in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium.

RESULTS

Combining the data from all five SNPs, the odds ratio (OR) was 1.05 for being a heterozygote for any of the SNPs and 1.51 for being a rare homozygote for any of the SNPs with an overall trend OR of 1.06 (P(trend) = 0.04). The trend OR among bilateral and familial cases was 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.23; P(trend) = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large combined analysis, these five missense ATM SNPs were associated with a small increased risk of breast cancer, explaining an estimated 0.03% of the excess familial risk of breast cancer.

IMPACT

Testing the combined effects of rare missense variants in known breast cancer genes in large collaborative studies should clarify their overall contribution to breast cancer susceptibility.

Abstract 2843: Caspase-8 gene SNPs in prostate cancer susceptibility: a replication study

Introduction

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the caspase-8 gene, (CASP8 D302H), has been reported to be involved in susceptibility to breast and pancreatic cancer, melanoma and glioma, but not colorectal or ovarian cancer. We previously have used a tagging-SNP approach to test the hypothesis that this SNP, or other variants in CASP8, were associated with prostate cancer, in 1009 cases, 987 men with normal serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and 961 men with low serum PSA (&lt;0.5ng/ml). These subjects were drawn from those participating in the UK ProtecT (Prostate Testing for Cancer and Treatment) trial. Of the 15 tagging SNPs in caspase-8 that were genotyped, 7 showed some evidence of association with prostate cancer (P&lt;0.05). The aim of the present study was to attempt to replicate these results in an independent set of case and control subjects.

Methods

A further independent sample of men from the ProtecT trial formed the replication cohort for this study. Blood DNA samples were available for 1262 men with prostate cancer, 1258 men with normal serum PSA, and 609 men with low serum PSA. SNP genotyping was carried out by 5-prime nuclease PCR (TaqmanTM, Applied Biosystems). The association with prostate cancer was tested using logistic regression, controlling for sample set.

Results

Two SNPs with duplicate concordance rates of less than 98% were not included in the analysis. Genotype call rates for the remaining 5 SNPs were all greater than 95%, and genotype frequencies in control subjects were consistent with those expected under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. None of the 5 SNPs yielded significant evidence of association in the replication cohort, although some odds ratios were consistent between the two data sets. We combined the data from the test and replication cohorts to evaluate the overall evidence for association. The rare alleles of rs3769826 and rs6723097 conferred a reduced risk of prostate cancer with per-allele odds ratios (95% confidence interval) [OR(95%CI)] of 0.90 (0.82-0.98) and 0.88 (0.80-0.96), and P=0.013 and P=0.004 respectively. In addition, the deletion allele of the promoter indel rs3834129 conferred an increased risk of prostate cancer, with OR (95%CI) of 1.15 (1.05-1.27), P=0.003. While these results await further replication, it is interesting to note that the rare alleles of rs3769826 and rs6723097 are carried on European haplotypes that are associated with increased risk of breast cancer, suggesting the possibility of a different mode of action of caspase-8 in the two tumour types.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2843.

Risk of estrogen receptor-positive and -negative breast cancer and single-nucleotide polymorphism 2q35-rs13387042

BACKGROUND

A recent genome-wide association study identified single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 2q35-rs13387042 as a marker of susceptibility to estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. We attempted to confirm this association using the Breast Cancer Association Consortium.

METHODS

2q35-rs13387042 SNP was genotyped for 31 510 women with invasive breast cancer, 1101 women with ductal carcinoma in situ, and 35 969 female control subjects from 25 studies. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by logistic regression, adjusted for study. Heterogeneity in odds ratios by each of age, ethnicity, and study was assessed by fitting interaction terms. Heterogeneity by each of invasiveness, family history, bilaterality, and hormone receptor status was assessed by subclassifying case patients and applying polytomous logistic regression. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

We found strong evidence of association between rs13387042 and breast cancer in white women of European origin (per-allele OR = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09 to 1.15; P(trend) = 1.0 x 10(-19)). The odds ratio was lower than that previously reported (P = .02) and did not vary by age or ethnicity (all P > or = .2). However, it was higher when the analysis was restricted to case patients who were selected for a strong family history (P = .02). An association was observed for both ER-positive (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.17; P = 10(-15)) and ER-negative disease (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.15; P = .0003) and both progesterone receptor (PR)-positive (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.19; P = 5 x 10(-14)) and PR-negative disease (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.15; P = .00002).

CONCLUSION

The rs13387042 is associated with both ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer in European women.

Newly discovered breast cancer susceptibility loci on 3p24 and 17q23.2

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified seven breast cancer susceptibility loci, but these explain only a small fraction of the familial risk of the disease. Five of these loci were identified through a two-stage GWAS involving 390 familial cases and 364 controls in the first stage, and 3,990 cases and 3,916 controls in the second stage. To identify additional loci, we tested over 800 promising associations from this GWAS in a further two stages involving 37,012 cases and 40,069 controls from 33 studies in the CGEMS collaboration and Breast Cancer Association Consortium. We found strong evidence for additional susceptibility loci on 3p (rs4973768: per-allele OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08-1.13, P = 4.1 x 10(-23)) and 17q (rs6504950: per-allele OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.97, P = 1.4 x 10(-8)). Potential causative genes include SLC4A7 and NEK10 on 3p and COX11 on 17q.

Improved detection of acute parvovirus B19 infection by immunoglobulin M EIA in combination with a novel antigen EIA

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although parvovirus B19 is a significant blood product contaminant, few methods other than polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been developed to detect the presence of the virus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A B19 antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA) has been developed and the sensitivity of detection is ascertained using dilutions of the B19 capsid protein VP2 and 10-fold dilutions of B19 viraemic serum. Once the assay cut-off was established, a panel of viraemic donations (n = 70) was screened by the antigen EIA. The B19 immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG status of these specimens was also determined. During screening of blood donor units by quantitative PCR, 70 individuals were identified with levels of B19 DNA greater than 10(6) IU/ml at the time of blood donation.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of the B19 antigen EIA was estimated to be equivalent to between 10(8) and 10(9) IU/ml B19 DNA or 1-10 pg/ml of recombinant capsid protein. B19 detection was significantly enhanced when viraemic specimens were pretreated with a low pH proprietary reagent. Unlike other virus-detection assays, detection of the B19 antigen was not affected by the presence of B19 IgM or IgG antibodies. In addition, the assay was capable of detecting all three genotypes of human erythrovirus. Combined specimen analysis by the B19 antigen assay and a B19 IgM assay facilitated the detection of 91% of acute B19 infections in the test population.

CONCLUSION

In combination with B19 IgM detection, application of the B19 antigen EIA is a flexible and efficient method of detecting recent B19 infection and can be used as an alternative to PCR.

A new therapeutic approach to treat psoriasis by inhibition of fatty acid oxidation by Etomoxir

BACKGROUND

The dogma in psoriasis is that due to pathogen-induced inflammatory responses, an autoreactive immune response is induced that leads to tissue destruction. However, this model might be too simplistic. Literature data suggest that the expression of enzymes crucial for fatty acid oxidation is upregulated in the skin of patients with psoriasis compared with healthy individuals.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the influence of fatty acid oxidation on psoriasis with regard to expression and activity of the key enzyme in fatty acid oxidation, carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) and the effect of the CPT-1 inhibitor, Etomoxir.

METHODS

Experiments were performed with homogenates of lesional and healthy skin, fibroblast cultures and a model of human psoriatic skin transplanted on immune-deficient BNX mice.

RESULTS

CPT-1 was highly active in lesional skin. Etomoxir was able to block CPT-1 activity in skin, implying that this antagonist may have the potential to suppress psoriasis when administered topically. In the mouse model, Etomoxir had an antipsoriatic effect that was at least as good as that of betamethasone, as evidenced by reduction of epidermal thickness, keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that fatty acid metabolism and in particular CPT-1 may be an excellent target for treatment of psoriasis.

Selection and interpretation of clinical pathology indicators of hepatic injury in preclinical studies

This position paper delineates the expert recommendations of the Regulatory Affairs Committee of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology for the use of preclinical, clinical pathology endpoints in assessment of the potential for drug-induced hepatic injury in animals and humans. Development of these guidelines has been based on current recommendations in the relevant preclinical and human clinical trial literature; they are intended to provide a method for consistent and rigorous interpretation of liver-specific data for the identification of hepatic injury in preclinical studies and potential liability for hepatic injury in human patients.

Screening the foods of an endangered parrot, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), for oestrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast bioassay

In recent years the possibility of environmental oestrogens affecting the reproduction of vertebrates has become an issue of both public and scientific interest. Although the significance of such chemicals remains controversial there is clear evidence that, in some contexts, environmental oestrogens can influence the fertility of vertebrates. Highly endangered species represent a situation in which even modest reductions in the fertility of key individuals may have implications for the survival of the entire species. This paper reports the screening of both natural and supplementary foods of the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), a critically endangered New Zealand nocturnal parrot, for oestrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast based bioassay. Low levels of oestrogenic activity were detected in one of the 'chick-raising' foods, but no oestrogenic activity was detected in the adult supplementary foods. The oestrogenicity of a range of phytochemicals possibly associated with the kakapo natural diet was also examined. Two such phytochemicals, podocarpic acid and its reduced derivative podocarpinol, showed weak oestrogenic activity (approximately 10(-6) and 10(-4) of the activity of 17-beta-oestradiol, respectively).

Nuclear localization and shuttling of herpes simplex virus tegument protein VP13/14

The herpes simplex virus type 1 gene UL47 encodes the tegument proteins referred to collectively as VP13/14, which are believed to be differentially modified forms of the same protein. Here we show that the major product of the UL47 gene during transient expression is VP14, suggesting that some feature of virus infection is required to produce VP13. We have tagged VP13/14 with green fluorescent protein and have demonstrated that the protein is targeted efficiently to the nucleus, where it often localizes in numerous punctate domains. Furthermore, we show that removal of the N-terminal 127 residues of the protein abrogates nuclear accumulation, and we have identified a 14-amino-acid peptide from this region that is sufficient to function as a nuclear targeting signal and transport a heterologous protein to the nucleus. This short peptide contains two runs of four arginine residues, suggesting that the VP13/14 nuclear localization signal may behave in a manner similar to that of the arginine-rich nuclear localization signals of the retrovirus transactivator proteins Tat, Rev, and Rex. In addition, by using heterokaryon assays, we show that VP13/14 is capable of shuttling between the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cell, a property that may be attributed to three leucine-rich stretches in the C-terminal half of the protein that again bear similarity to the nuclear export signals of Rev and Rex. This is the first demonstration of a tegument protein that is specifically targeted to the nucleus, a feature which may be relevant both during virus entry, when VP13/14 enters the cell as a component of the tegument, and at later times, when large amounts of newly synthesized VP13/14 are present within the cell.

Fluorescent tagging of herpes simplex virus tegument protein VP13/14 in virus infection

The cellular site of herpesvirus tegument assembly has yet to be defined. We have previously used a recombinant herpes simplex virus type 1 expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged tegument protein, namely VP22, to show that VP22 is localized exclusively to the cytoplasm during infection. Here we have constructed a similar virus expressing another fluorescent tegument protein, YFP-VP13/14, and have visualized the intracellular localization of this second tegument protein in live infected cells. In contrast to VP22, VP13/14 is targeted predominantly to the nuclei of infected cells at both early and late times in infection. More specifically, YFP-13/14 localizes initially to the nuclear replication compartments and then progresses into intense punctate domains that appear at around 12 h postinfection. At even later times this intranuclear punctate fluorescence is gradually replaced by perinuclear micropunctate and membranous fluorescence. While the vast majority of YFP-13/14 seems to be targeted to the nucleus, a minor subpopulation also appears in a vesicular pattern in the cytoplasm that closely resembles the pattern previously observed for GFP-22. Moreover, at late times weak fluorescence appears at the cell periphery and in extracellular virus particles, confirming that YFP-13/14 is assembled into virions. This predominantly nuclear targeting of YFP-13/14 together with the cytoplasmic targeting of VP22 may imply that there are multiple sites of tegument protein incorporation along the virus maturation pathway. Thus, our YFP-13/14-expressing virus has revealed the complexity of the intracellular targeting of VP13/14 and provides a novel insight into the mechanism of tegument, and hence virus, assembly.

Findings from the NIMH Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA): implications and applications for primary care providers

In 1992, the National Institute of Mental Health and 6 teams of investigators began a multisite clinical trial, the Multimodal Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (MTA) study. Five hundred seventy-nine children were randomly assigned to either routine community care (CC) or one of three study-delivered treatments, all lasting 14 months. The three MTA treatments-monthly medication management (usually methylphenidate) following weekly titration (MedMgt), intensive behavioral treatment (Beh), and the combination (Comb)-were designed to reflect known best practices within each treatment approach. Children were assessed at four time points in multiple outcome. Results indicated that Comb and MedMgt interventions were substantially superior to Beh and CC interventions for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. For other functioning domains (social skills, academics, parent-child relations, oppositional behavior, anxiety/depression), results suggested slight advantages of Comb over single treatments (MedMgt, Beh) and community care. High quality medication treatment characterized by careful yet adequate dosing, three times daily methylphenidate administration, monthly follow-up visits, and communication with schools conveyed substantial benefits to those children that received it. In contrast to the overall study findings that showed the largest benefits for high quality medication management (regardless of whether given in the MedMgt or Comb group), secondary analyses revealed that Comb had a significant incremental effect over MedMgt (with a small effect size for this comparison) when categorical indicators of excellent response and when composite outcome measures were used. In addition, children with parent-defined comorbid anxiety disorders, particularly those with overlapping disruptive disorder comorbidities, showed preferential benefits to the Beh and Comb interventions. Parental attitudes and disciplinary practices appeared to mediate improved response to the Beh and Comb interventions.

Parenting and family stress treatment outcomes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): an empirical analysis in the MTA study

Parenting and family stress treatment outcomes in the MTA study were examined. Male and female (579), 7-9-year-old children with combined type Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), were recruited at six sites around the United States and Canada, and randomly assigned to one of four groups: intensive, multi-faceted behavior therapy program alone (Beh); carefully titrated and monitored medication management strategy alone (MedMgt); a well-integrated combination of the two (Comb); or a community comparison group (CC). Treatment occurred over 14 months, and assessments were taken at baseline, 3, 9, and 14 months. Parenting behavior and family stress were assessed using parent-report and child-report inventories. Results showed that Beh alone, MedMgt alone, and Comb produced significantly greater decreases in a parent-rated measure of negative parenting, Negative/Ineffective Discipline, than did standard community treatment. The three MTA treatments did not differ significantly from each other on this domain. No differences were noted among the four groups on positive parenting or on family stress variables. Results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and empirically documented importance of negative parenting in the symptoms, comorbidities and long-term outcomes of ADHD.

Family processes and treatment outcome in the MTA: negative/ineffective parenting practices in relation to multimodal treatment

To elucidate processes underlying therapeutic change in a large-scale randomized clinical trial, we examined whether alterations in self-reported parenting practices were associated with the effects of behavioral, medication, or combination treatments on teacher-reported outcomes (disruptive behavior, social skills, internalizing symptoms) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants were 579 children with Combined-type ADHD, aged 7-9.9 years, in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA). We uncovered 2 second-order factors of parenting practices, entitled Positive Involvement and Negative/Ineffective Discipline. Although Positive Involvement was not associated with amelioration of the school-based outcome measures, reductions in Negative/Ineffective Discipline mediated improvement in children's social skills at school. For families showing the greatest reductions in Negative/Ineffective Discipline, effects of combined medication plus behavioral treatment were pronounced in relation to regular community care. Furthermore, only in combination treatment (and not in behavioral treatment alone) was decreased Negative/Ineffective Discipline associated with reduction in children's disruptive behavior at school. Here, children in families receiving combination treatment who showed the greatest reductions in Negative/Ineffective Discipline had teacher-reported disruptive behavior that was essentially normalized. Overall, the success of combination treatment for important school-related outcomes appears related to reductions in negative and ineffective parenting practices at home; we discuss problems in interpreting the temporal sequencing of such process-outcome linkages and the means by which multimodal treatment may be mediated by psychosocial processes related to parenting.

Psychosocial treatment strategies in the MTA study: rationale, methods, and critical issues in design and implementation

The Collaborative Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the MTA, is the first multisite, cooperative agreement treatment study of children, and the largest psychiatric/psychological treatment trial ever conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health. It examines the effectiveness of Medication vs. Psychosocial treatment vs. their combination for treatment of ADHD and compares these experimental arms to each other and to routine community care. In a parallel group design, 579 (male and female) ADHD children, aged 7-9 years, 11 months, were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental arms, and then received 14 months of prescribed treatment (or community care) with periodic reassessments. After delineating the theoretical and empirical rationales for Psychosocial treatment of ADHD, we describe the MTA's Psychosocial Treatment strategy applied to all children in two of the four experimental arms (Psychosocial treatment alone; Combined treatment). Psychosocial treatment consisted of three major components: a Parent Training component, a two-part School Intervention component, and a child treatment component anchored in an intensive Summer Treatment Program. Components were selected based on evidence of treatment efficacy and because they address comprehensive symptom targets, settings, comorbidities, and functional domains. We delineate key conceptual and logistical issues faced by clinical researchers in design and implementation of Psychosocial research with examples of how these issues were addressed in the MTA study.

Characterization of osteoclast precursors in human blood

Osteoclast precursors (OCPs) circulate in the mononuclear fraction of peripheral blood (PB), but their abundance and surface characteristics are unknown. Previous studies suggest that the receptor activator for NF-kappaB (RANK) on cytokine-treated OCPs in mouse bone marrow interacts with osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL/TRANCE/RANKL/ODF) to initiate osteoclast differentiation. Hence, we used a fluorescent form of human OPGL (Hu-OPGL-F) to identify possible RANK-expressing OCPs in untreated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Monocytes [CD14-phycoerythrin (PE) antibody (Ab) positive (+) cells, 10-15% of PBMCs] all (98-100%) co-labelled with Hu-OPGL-F (n > 18). T lymphocytes (CD3-PE Ab+ cells, 66% of PBMCs) did not bind Hu-OPGL-F; however, B cells (CD19-PE Ab+ cells, 9% of PBMCs) were also positive for Hu-OPGL-F. All Hu-OPGL-F+ monocytes also co-labelled with CD33, CD61, CD11b, CD38, CD45 and CD54 Abs, but not CD34 or CD56 Abs. Hu-OPGL-F binding was dose dependent and competed with excess Hu-OPGL. When Hu-OPGL-F+, CD14-PE Ab+, CD33-PE Ab+, Hu-OPGL-F+/CD14-PE Ab+ or Hu-OPGL-F+/CD33-PE Ab+ cells were cultured with OPGL (20 ng/ml) and colony-stimulating factor (CSF)-1 (25 ng/ml), OC-like cells readily developed. Thus, all freshly isolated monocytes demonstrate displaceable Hu-OPGL-F binding, suggesting the presence of RANK on OCPs in PB; also, OCPs within a purified PB monocyte population form osteoclast-like cells in the complete absence of other cell types in OPGL and CSF-1 containing medium.