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Fernandez-Rojo MA, Pearen MA, Burgess AG, Ikonomopoulou MP, Hoang-Le D, Genz B, Saggiomo SL, Nawaratna SSK, Poli M, Reissmann R, Gobert GN, Deutsch U, Engelhardt B, Brooks AJ, Jones A, Arosio P, Ramm GA. The heavy subunit of ferritin stimulates NLRP3 inflammasomes in hepatic stellate cells through ICAM-1 to drive hepatic inflammation. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eade4335. [PMID: 38564492 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.ade4335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Serum ferritin concentrations increase during hepatic inflammation and correlate with the severity of chronic liver disease. Here, we report a molecular mechanism whereby the heavy subunit of ferritin (FTH) contributes to hepatic inflammation. We found that FTH induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) through intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). FTH-ICAM-1 stimulated the expression of Il1b, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and the processing and secretion of IL-1β in a manner that depended on plasma membrane remodeling, clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and lysosomal destabilization. FTH-ICAM-1 signaling at early endosomes stimulated Il1b expression, implying that this endosomal signaling primed inflammasome activation in HSCs. In contrast, lysosomal destabilization was required for FTH-induced IL-1β secretion, suggesting that lysosomal damage activated inflammasomes. FTH induced IL-1β production in liver slices from wild-type mice but not in those from Icam1-/- or Nlrp3-/- mice. Thus, FTH signals through its receptor ICAM-1 on HSCs to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. We speculate that this pathway contributes to hepatic inflammation, a key process that stimulates hepatic fibrogenesis associated with chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A Fernandez-Rojo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Michael A Pearen
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Anita G Burgess
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Maria P Ikonomopoulou
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- Translational Venomics Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Diem Hoang-Le
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Berit Genz
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Silvia L Saggiomo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | | | - Maura Poli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Regina Reissmann
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Freiestrasse 1, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Geoffrey N Gobert
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Urban Deutsch
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 1, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Britta Engelhardt
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 1, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Alun Jones
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Grant A Ramm
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
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Gobert GN, McManus DP, McMullan G, Creevey CJ, Carson J, Jones MK, Nawaratna SSK, Weerakoon KG, You H. Adult schistosomes have an epithelial bacterial population distinct from the surrounding mammalian host blood. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263188. [PMID: 35085360 PMCID: PMC8794206 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic and chronic disease affecting hundreds of millions of people. Adult schistosomes reside in the blood stream of the definitive mammalian host. These helminth parasites possess two epithelial surfaces, the tegument and the gastrodermis, both of which interact with the host during immune evasion and in nutrient uptake.
Methods
Female ARC Swiss mice (4–6 weeks old) were infected percutaneously with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae freshly shed from Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi snails (Philippines strain). Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) was performed by using fresh adult S. japonicum perfused from those infected mice. Adult S. japonicum worms were processed to isolate the tegument from the carcass containing the gastrodermis; blood and bile were collected individually from infected and uninfected mice. Total DNA extracted from all those samples were used for microbiome profiling.
Results
FISH and microbiome profiling showed the presence of bacterial populations on two epithelial surfaces of adult worms, suggesting they were distinct not only from the host blood but also from each other. Whereas microbial diversity was reduced overall in the parasite epithelial tissues when compared with that of host blood, specific bacterial taxa, including Anoxybacillus and Escherichia, were elevated on the tegument. Minimal differences were evident in the microbiome of host blood during an active infection, compared with that of control uninfected blood. However, sampling of bile from infected animals identified some differences compared with controls, including elevated levels of Limnohabitans, Clostridium and Curvibacter.
Conclusions
Using FISH and microbial profiling, we were able to demonstrate, for the first time, that bacteria are presented on the epithelial surfaces of adult schistosomes. These schistosome surface-associated bacteria, which are distinct from the host blood microenvironment, should be considered as a new and important component of the host-schistosome interaction. The importance of individual bacterial species in relation to schistosome parasitism needs further elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey N. Gobert
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (HY); (GNG)
| | - Donald P. McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Geoff McMullan
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jack Carson
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm K. Jones
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sujeevi S. K. Nawaratna
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Kosala G. Weerakoon
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, Sri Lanka
| | - Hong You
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- * E-mail: (HY); (GNG)
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Du X, Jones MK, Nawaratna SSK, Ranasinghe S, Xiong C, Cai P, McManus DP, You H. Gene Expression in Developmental Stages of Schistosoma japonicum Provides Further Insight into the Importance of the Schistosome Insulin-Like Peptide. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20071565. [PMID: 30925781 PMCID: PMC6480100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We showed previously that the Schistosoma japonicum insulin-like peptide (SjILP) binds the worm insulin receptors, thereby, activating the parasite’s insulin pathway and emphasizing its important role in regulating uptake of glucose, a nutrient essential for parasite survival. Here we show that SjILP is differentially expressed in the schistosome life cycle and is especially highly transcribed in eggs, miracidia, and adult female worms. RNA inference was employed to knockdown SjILP in adults in vitro, with suppression confirmed by significantly reduced protein production, declined adenosine diphosphate levels, and reduction in glucose consumption. Immunolocalization showed that SjILP is located to lateral gland cells of mature intra-ovular miracidia in the schistosome egg, and is distributed on the ciliated epithelium and internal cell masses of newly transformed miracidia. In schistosomula, SjILP is present on the tegument in two antero-lateral points, indicating highly polarized expression during cercarial transformation. Analysis of serum from S. japonicum-infected mice by ELISA using a recombinant form of SjILP as an antigen revealed IgG immunoreactivity to this molecule at 7 weeks post-infection indicating it is likely secreted from mature eggs into the host circulation. These findings provide further insights on ILP function in schistosomes and its essential roles in parasite survival and growth in different development stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Du
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland 4006, Australia.
| | - Malcolm K Jones
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia.
| | - Sujeevi S K Nawaratna
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland 4006, Australia.
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia.
| | - Shiwanthi Ranasinghe
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland 4006, Australia.
| | - Chunrong Xiong
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214000, China.
| | - Pengfei Cai
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland 4006, Australia.
| | - Donald P McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland 4006, Australia.
| | - Hong You
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland 4006, Australia.
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Nawaratna SSK, Gobert GN, Willis C, Mulvenna J, Hofmann A, McManus DP, Jones MK. Lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein (LAMP)--preliminary study on a hidden antigen target for vaccination against schistosomiasis. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15069. [PMID: 26472258 PMCID: PMC4607944 DOI: 10.1038/srep15069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Our previously reported gene atlasing of schistosome tissues revealed transcripts that were highly enriched in the digestive tract of Schistosoma mansoni. From these, we selected two candidates, Sm-LAMP and Sm-NPC2 for testing as vaccine targets. The two molecules were selected on the basis of relatively high expression in the gastrodermis, their potentially important biological function, divergence from homologous molecules of the host and possible apical membrane expression in the gastrodermis. Bacterially expressed recombinant peptides corresponding to regions excluding trans-membrane domains of the selected vaccine targets were used in blinded vaccine trials in CBA mice using alum-CpG as adjuvant. Vaccine trials using the recombinant insoluble Sm-LAMP protein showed 16-25% significant reduction in total worm burden. Faecal egg count reduction was 52% and 60% in two trials, respectively, with similar results for the solubly expressed protein. Liver egg burden was reduced significantly (20% and 38%) with an insoluble recombinant Sm-LAMP in two trials, but not with the soluble recombinant form. Parasite fecundity was not affected by either Sm-LAMP protein preparations in the trials. It is concluded that Sm-LAMP may provide limited protection towards S. mansoni infections but could be used in combination with other vaccine candidates, to provide more comprehensive protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeevi S. K. Nawaratna
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton Qld, 4343, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld, 4006, Australia
| | - Geoffrey N. Gobert
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld, 4006, Australia
| | - Charlene Willis
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld, 4006, Australia
| | - Jason Mulvenna
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld, 4006, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld 4111, Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Donald P. McManus
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld, 4006, Australia
| | - Malcolm K. Jones
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton Qld, 4343, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld, 4006, Australia
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Nawaratna SSK, Gobert GN, Willis C, Chuah C, McManus DP, Jones MK. Transcriptional profiling of the oesophageal gland region of male worms of Schistosoma mansoni. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2014; 196:82-9. [PMID: 25149559 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The intestinal tract of schistosomes opens at the mouth and leads into the foregut or oesophageal region that is lined with syncytium continuous with the apical cytoplasm of the tegument. The oesophagus is surrounded by a specialised gland, the oesophageal gland. This gland releases materials into the lumen of the oesophagus and the region is thought to initiate the lysis of erythrocytes and neutralisation of immune effectors of the host. The oesophageal region is present in the early invasive schistosomulum, a stage potentially targetable by anti-schistosome vaccines. We used a 44k oligonucleotide microarray to identify highly up-regulated genes in microdissected frozen sections of the oesophageal gland of male worms of S. mansoni. We show that 122 genes were up-regulated 2-fold or higher in the oesophageal gland compared with a whole male worm tissue control. The enriched genes included several associated with lipid metabolism and transmembrane transport as well as some micro-exon genes. Since the oesophageal gland is important in the initiation of digestion and the fact that it develops early after invasion of the mammalian host, further study of selected highly up-regulated functionally important genes in this tissue may reveal new anti-schistosome intervention targets for schistosomiasis control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeevi S K Nawaratna
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
| | - Geoffrey N Gobert
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia
| | - Charlene Willis
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia
| | - Candy Chuah
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Donald P McManus
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia
| | - Malcolm K Jones
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia
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Nawaratna SSK, McManus DP, Moertel L, Gobert GN, Jones MK. Gene Atlasing of digestive and reproductive tissues in Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011; 5:e1043. [PMID: 21541360 PMCID: PMC3082511 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2010] [Accepted: 03/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While considerable genomic and transcriptomic data are available for
Schistosoma mansoni, many of its genes lack significant
annotation. A transcriptomic study of individual tissues and organs of
schistosomes could play an important role in functional annotation of the
unknown genes, particularly by providing rapid localisation data and thus
giving insight into the potential roles of these molecules in parasite
development, reproduction and homeostasis, and in the complex host-parasite
interaction. Methodology/Principal Findings Quantification of gene expression in tissues of S. mansoni
was achieved by a combination of laser microdissection microscopy (LMM) and
oligonucleotide microarray analysis. We compared the gene expression profile
of the adult female gastrodermis and male and female reproductive tissues
with whole worm controls. The results revealed a total of 393 genes
(contigs) that were up-regulated two-fold or more in the gastrodermis, 4,450
in the ovary, 384 in the vitelline tissues of female parasites, and 2,171 in
the testes. We have also supplemented these data with the identification of
highly expressed genes in different regions of manually dissected male and
female S. mansoni. Though relatively crude, this dissection
strategy provides low resolution localisation data for critical regions of
the adult parasites that are not amenable to LMM isolation. Conclusions This is the first detailed transcriptomic study of the reproductive tissues
and gastrodermis of S. mansoni. The results obtained will
help direct future research on the functional aspects of these tissues,
expediting the characterisation of currently unannotated gene products of
S. mansoni and the discovery of new drug and vaccine
targets. There is currently only one drug available for treatment of
schistosomiasis mansoni and no vaccine. The searches for
possible new drug and vaccine candidates remain two major areas of current
research in schistosomiasis. There are considerable amounts of data available on
the genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics of Schistosoma
mansoni from which useful candidates for future drug and vaccine
development can be identified. Arranging these data into a biologically relevant
context through the characterisation of gene expression profiles of the
different tissues of this complex metazoan parasite, is an essential step in
identifying molecules with potential therapeutic value. We have used laser
microdissection microscopy and microarray analysis to show that many
tissue-specific genes are up-regulated in the digestive and reproductive tissues
of S. mansoni. This new knowledge provides an avenue to
investigate the molecular components associated with fundamental aspects of
schistosome biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeevi S. K. Nawaratna
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton,
Australia
| | | | - Luke Moertel
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia
| | - Geoffrey N. Gobert
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton,
Australia
| | - Malcolm K. Jones
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton,
Australia
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an emerging disease in Sri Lanka. Of 116 patients with clinical symptoms suggestive of CL, 86 were confirmed positive for Leishmania donovani. Most patients had single dry lesions, usually on the face. Patients were from 5 of the 7 agroclimatic zones in Sri Lanka.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeevi S K Nawaratna
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
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Abstract
In 50 healthy Peruvian shantytown residents, zinc cream applied to tuberculosis skin-test sitescaused a 32% increase in induration compared with placebo cream. Persons with lower plasma zinc had smaller skin-test reactions and greater augmentation with zinc cream. Zinc deficiency caused false-negative skin-test results, and topical zinc supplementation augmented antimycobacterial immune responses enough to improve diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeevi S K Nawaratna
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
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