The evolutionary history of the goby Elacatinus puncticulatus in the tropical eastern pacific: Effects of habitat discontinuities and local environmental variability

Habitat discontinuities, temperature gradients, upwelling systems, and ocean currents, gyres and fronts, can affect distributions of species with narrow environmental tolerance or motility and influence the dispersal of pelagic larvae, with effects ranging from the isolation of adjacent populations to connections between them. The coast of the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) is a highly dynamic environment, with various large gyres and upwelling systems, alternating currents and large rocky-habitat discontinuities, which may greatly influence the genetic connectivity of populations in different parts of the coast. Elacatinus puncticulatus is a cryptic, shallow-living goby that is distributed along the continental shore of virtually the entire TEP, which makes it a good model for testing the influence of these environmental characteristics in the molecular evolution of widespread species in this region. A multilocus phylogeny was used to evaluate the influence of habitat gaps, and oceanographic processes in the evolutionary history of E. puncticulatus throughout its geographical range in the TEP. Two well-supported allopatric clades (one with two allopatric subclades) were recovered, the geographic distribution of which does not correspond to any previously proposed major biogeographic provinces. These populations show strong genetic structure and substantial genetic distances between clades and sub-clades (cytb 0.8-7.3%), with divergence times between them ranging from 0.53 to 4.88 Mya, and recent population expansions dated at 170-130 Kya. The ancestral area of all populations appears to be the Gulf of Panama, while several isolation events have formed the phylogeographic patterns evident in this species. Local and regional oceanographic processes as well as habitat discontinuities have shaped the distribution patterns of the genetic lineages along the continental TEP. Large genetic distances, high genetic differentiation, and the results of species-tree and phylogenetic analyses indicate that E. puncticulatus comprises a complex of three allopatric species with an unusual geographic arrangement.

A new species of Astyanax (Characiformes: Characidae) from Costa Rica and Panama, with a key to the lower Central American species of the genus

Astyanax anai, a new species of characid fish, is described from the Sixaola River basin, eastern Costa Rica-western Panama, Central America. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: premaxillary teeth 4-5 at the inner series and 4-6 at the outer series; maxillary teeth tricuspid, 2-4; predorsal scale series irregular and incomplete, with an unscaled space behind tip of supraoccipital process and 12-14 scales; lateral line scales 34-39; humeral region with a conspicuous black and rounded to horizontally ovate spot and two diffuse brown and vertically elongate bars (the first through the rounded to horizontally ovate spot, the second 2-4 scales behind the first); body depth 36·6-42·3% of standard length (L_S ); midlateral stripe formed by a series of 10-14 anteriorly-directed dermal herringbone, or chevron-shaped, marks, most apparent in juveniles and in preserved specimens, extending above the lateral line from the black humeral spot or just behind it (from the second vertical bar) to the caudal peduncle; scale rows from lateral line to base of first dorsal-fin ray 8-9; scale rows from lateral line to base of pelvic fin 7-8; pre-anal distance 53·9-61·9% of L_S ; total anal-fin elements 29-33; caudal spot elongated, rhomboid or rectangular, with its anterior margin surpassing the middle of the caudal peduncle, usually reaching the anal-fin insertion, posteriorly covering 4-7 principal caudal-fin rays and not extending onto the ventral and dorsal margins of the caudal peduncle, covering 3-5 horizontal scale rows. In order to test the phylogenetic relationships of the new taxon in relation to the other North and Central American species of the genus, a new phylogenetic hypothesis based on a reanalysis of the morphological matrix by Schmitter-Soto (2016) is proposed. A key to the lower Central American (southern Nicaragua to eastern Panama) species of Astyanax is also provided.

Psychological impact of multigene cancer panel testing in patients with a clinical suspicion of hereditary cancer across Spain

OBJECTIVE

Patients' psychological reactions to multigene cancer panel testing might differ compared with the single-gene testing reactions because of the complexity and uncertainty associated with the different possible results. Understanding patients' preferences and psychological impact of multigene panel testing is important to adapt the genetic counselling model.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-seven unrelated patients with clinical suspicion of hereditary cancer undergoing a 25-gene panel test completed questionnaires after pretest genetic counselling and at 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months after results to elicit their preferences regarding results disclosure and to measure their cancer worry and testing-specific distress and uncertainty.

RESULTS

A pathogenic variant was identified in 38 patients (34 high penetrance and 4 moderate penetrance variants), and 54 patients had at least one variant of uncertain significance. Overall, cancer panel testing was not associated with an increase in cancer worry after results disclosure (P value = .87). Twelve months after results, carriers of a moderate penetrance variant had higher distress and uncertainty scores compared with carriers of high penetrance variants. Cancer worry prior to genetic testing predicted genetic testing specific distress after results, especially at long term (P value <.001). Most of the patients reported the wish to know all genetic results.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that patients can psychologically cope with cancer panel testing, but distress and uncertainty observed in carriers of moderate penetrance cancer variants in this cohort warrant further research.

Comparison of risk classification between EndoPredict and MammaPrint in ER-positive/HER2-negative primary invasive breast cancer

PURPOSE

To compare the concordance in risk classification between the EndoPredict and the MammaPrint scores obtained for the same cancer samples on 40 estrogen-receptor positive/HER2-negative breast carcinomas.

METHODS

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded invasive breast carcinoma tissues that were previously analyzed with MammaPrint as part of routine care of the patients, and were classified as high-risk (20 patients) and low-risk (20 patients), were selected to be analyzed by the EndoPredict assay, a second generation gene expression test that combines expression of 8 genes (EP score) with two clinicopathological variables (tumor size and nodal status, EPclin score).

RESULTS

The EP score classified 15 patients as low-risk and 25 patients as high-risk. EPclin re-classified 5 of the 25 EP high-risk patients into low-risk, resulting in a total of 20 high-risk and 20 low-risk tumors. EP score and MammaPrint score were significantly correlated (p = 0.008). Twelve of 20 samples classified as low-risk by MammaPrint were also low-risk by EP score (60%). 17 of 20 MammaPrint high-risk tumors were also high-risk by EP score. The overall concordance between EP score and MammaPrint was 72.5% (κ = 0.45, (95% CI, 0.182 to 0.718)). EPclin score also correlated with MammaPrint results (p = 0.004). Discrepancies between both tests occurred in 10 cases: 5 MammaPrint low-risk patients were classified as EPclin high-risk and 5 high-risk MammaPrint were classified as low-risk by EPclin and overall concordance of 75% (κ = 0.5, (95% CI, 0.232 to 0.768)).

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study demonstrates a limited concordance between MammaPrint and EndoPredict. Differences in results could be explained by the inclusion of different gene sets in each platform, the use of different methodology, and the inclusion of clinicopathological parameters, such as tumor size and nodal status, in the EndoPredict test.

EPMA-World Congress 2015

A1 Predictive and prognostic biomarker panel for targeted application of radioembolisation improving individual outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Jella-Andrea Abraham, Olga Golubnitschaja

A2 Integrated market access approach amplifying value of “Rx-CDx”

Ildar Akhmetov

A3 Disaster response: an opportunity to improve global healthcare

Russell J. Andrews, Leonidas Quintana

A4 USA PPPM: proscriptive, profligate, profiteering medicine-good for 1 % wealthy, not for 99 % unhealthy

Russell J. Andrews

A5 The role of IDO in a murine model of gingivitis: predictive and therapeutic potentials

Babak Baban, Jun Yao Liu, Xu Qin, Tailing Wang, Mahmood S. Mozaffari

A6 Specific diets for personalised treatment of diabetes type 2

Viktoriia V. Bati, Tamara V. Meleshko, Olga B. Levchuk, Nadiya V. Boyko

A7 Towards personalized physiotherapeutic approach

Joanna Bauer, Ewa Boerner, Halina Podbielska

A8 Cells, animal, SHIME and in silico models for detection and verification of specific biomarkers of non-communicable chronic diseases

Alojz Bomba, Viktor O. Petrov, Volodymyr G. Drobnych, Rostyslav V. Bubnov, Oksana M. Bykova, Nadiya V. Boyko

A9 INTERACT-chronic care model: Self-treatment by patients with decision support e-Health solution

Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca, Lutz Fleischhacker, Olga Golubnitschaja, Frank Heemskerk, Thomas Helms, Tiny Jaarsma, Judita Kinkorova, Jan Ramaekers, Peter Ruff, Ivana Schnur, Emilio Vanoli, Jose Verdu

A10 PPPM in cardiovascular medicine in 2015

Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca

A11 Magnetic resonance imaging of nanoparticles in mice, potential for theranostic and contrast media development – pilot results

Rostyslav V. Bubnov, Sergiy A. Grabovetskyi, Olena M. Mykhalchenko, Natalia O. Tymoshok, Oleksandr B. Shcherbakov, Igor P. Semeniv, Mykola Y. Spivak

A12 Ultrasound diagnosis for diabetic neuropathy - comparative study

Rostyslav V. Bubnov, Tetyana V. Ostapenko

A13 Ultrasound for stratification patients with diabetic foot ulcers for prevention and personalized treatment - pilot results

Rostyslav V. Bubnov, Nazarii M. Kobyliak, Nadiya M. Zholobak, Mykola Ya. Spivak

A14 Project ImaGenX – designing and executing a questionnaire on environment and lifestyle risk of breast cancer

John Paul Cauchi

A15 Genomics – a new structural brand of predictive, preventive and personalized medicine or the new driver as well?

Dmitrii Cherepakhin, Marina Bakay, Artem Borovikov, Sergey Suchkov

A16 Survey of questionnaires for evaluation of the quality of life in various medical fields

Barbara Cieślik, Agnieszka Migasiewicz, Maria-Luiza Podbielska, Markus Pelleter, Agnieszka Giemza, Halina Podbielska

A17 Personalized molecular treatment for muscular dystrophies

Sebahattin Cirak

A18 Secondary mutations in circulating tumour DNA for acquired drug resistance in patients with advanced ALK + NSCLC

Marzia Del Re, Paola Bordi, Valentina Citi, Marta Palombi, Carmine Pinto, Marcello Tiseo, Romano Danesi

A19 Recombinant species-specific FcεRI alpha proteins for diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergies in dogs, cats and horses

Lukas Einhorn, Judit Fazekas, Martina Muhr, Alexandra Schoos, Lucia Panakova, Ina Herrmann, Krisztina Manzano-Szalai, Kumiko Oida, Edda Fiebiger, Josef Singer, Erika Jensen-Jarolim

A20 Global methodology for developmental neurotoxicity testing in humans and animals early and chronically exposed to chemical contaminants

Arpiné A. Elnar, Nadia Ouamara, Nadiya Boyko, Xavier Coumoul, Jean-Philippe Antignac, Bruno Le Bizec, Gauthier Eppe, Jenny Renaut, Torsten Bonn, Cédric Guignard, Margherita Ferrante, Maria Liusa Chiusano, Salvatore Cuzzocrea, Gerard O'Keeffe, John Cryan, Michelle Bisson, Amina Barakat, Ihsane Hmamouchi, Nasser Zawia, Anumantha Kanthasamy, Glen E. Kisby, Rui Alves, Oscar Villacañas Pérez, Kim Burgard, Peter Spencer, Norbert Bomba, Martin Haranta, Nina Zaitseva, Irina May, Stéphanie Grojean, Mathilde Body-Malapel, Florencia Harari, Raul Harari, Kristina Yeghiazaryan, Olga Golubnitschaja, Vittorio Calabrese, Christophe Nemos, Rachid Soulimani

A21 Mental indicators at young people with attributes hypertension and pre-hypertension

Maria E. Evsevyeva, Elena A. Mishenko, Zurida V. Kumukova, Evgeniy V. Chudnovsky, Tatyana A. Smirnova

A22 On the approaches to the early diagnosis of stress-induced hypertension in young employees of State law enforcement agencies

Maria E. Evsevyeva, Ludmila V. Ivanova, Michail V. Eremin, Maria V. Rostovtseva

A23 Сentral aortic pressure and indexes of augmentation in young persons in view of risk factors

Maria E. Evsevyeva, Michail V. Eremin, Vladimir I. Koshel, Oksana V. Sergeeva, Nadesgda M. Konovalova

A24 Breast cancer prediction and prevention: Are reliable biomarkers in horizon?

Shantanu Girotra, Olga Golubnitschaja

A25 Flammer Syndrome and potential formation of pre-metastatic niches: A multi-centred study on phenotyping, patient stratification, prediction and potential prevention of aggressive breast cancer and metastatic disease

Olga Golubnitschaja, Manuel Debald, Walther Kuhn, Kristina Yeghiazaryan, Rostyslav V. Bubnov, Vadym M. Goncharenko, Ulyana Lushchyk, Godfrey Grech, Katarzyna Konieczka

A26 Innovative tools for prenatal diagnostics and monitoring: improving individual pregnancy outcomes and health-economy in EU

Olga Golubnitschaja, Jan Jaap Erwich, Vincenzo Costigliola, Kristina Yeghiazaryan, Ulrich Gembruch

A27 Immunohistochemical assessment of APUD cells in endometriosis

Vadym M. Goncharenko, Vasyl O. Beniuk, Olga V. Kalenska, Rostyslav V. Bubnov

A28 Updating personalized management algorithm of endometrial hyperplasia in pre-menopause women

Vadym M. Goncharenko, Vasyl O. Beniuk, Rostyslav V. Bubnov, Olga Melnychuk

A29 The personified treatment approach of polimorbid patients with periodontal inflammatory diseases

Irina A. Gorbacheva, Lyudmila Y. Orekhova, Vadim V. Tachalov

A30 Ukrainian experience in hybrid war – the challenge to update algorithms for personalized care and early prevention of different military injuries

Olena I. Grechanyk, Rizvan Ya. Abdullaiev, Rostyslav V. Bubnov

A31 Tear fluid biomarkers: a comparison of tear fluid sampling and storage protocols

Suzanne Hagan, Eilidh Martin, Ian Pearce, Katherine Oliver

A32 The correlation of dietary habits with gingival problems during menstruation

Cenk Haytac, Fariz Salimov, Servin Yoksul, Anatoly A. Kunin, Natalia S. Moiseeva

A33 Genomic medicine in a contemporary Spanish population of prostate cancer: our experience

Bernardo Herrera-Imbroda, Sergio del Río-González, Maria Fernanda Lara, Antonia Angulo, Francisco Javier Machuca Santa-Cruz

A34 Challenges, opportunities and collaborations for personalized medicine applicability in uro-oncological disease

Bernardo Herrera-Imbroda, Sergio del Río-González, Maria Fernanda Lara

A35 Metabolic hallmarks of cancer as targets for a personalized therapy

John Ionescu

A36 Influence of genetic polymorphism as a predictor of the development of periodontal disease in patients with gastric ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer

Alfiya Z. Isamulaeva, Anatoly A. Kunin, Shamil Sh. Magomedov, Aida I. Isamulaeva

A37 Challenges in diabetic macular edema

Tatjana Josifova

A38 Overview of the EPMA strategies in laboratory medicine relevant for PPPM

Marko Kapalla, Juraj Kubáň, Olga Golubnitschaja, Vincenzo Costigliola

A39 EPMA initiative for effective organization of medical travel: European concepts and criteria

Vincenzo Costigliola, Marko Kapalla, Juraj Kubáň, Olga Golubnitschaja

A40 Design and innovation in e-textiles: implications for PPPM

Anthony Kent, Tom Fisher, Tilak Dias

A41 Biobank in Pilsen as a member of national node BBMRI_CZ

Judita Kinkorová, Ondřej Topolčan

A42 Big data in personalized medicine: hype and hope

Matthias Kohl

A43 The 3P approach as the platform of the European Dentistry Department (DPPPD)

Anatoly A. Kunin, Natalia S. Moiseeva

A44 The endometrium cytokine patterns for predictive diagnosis of proliferation severity and cancer prevention

Andrii I. Kurchenko, Vasyl A. Beniuk, Vadym M. Goncharenko, Rostyslav V. Bubnov, Nadiya V. Boyko, Andriy M. Strokan

A45 A monocyte-based in-vitro system for testing individual responses to the implanted material: future for personalized implant construction

Julia Kzhyshkowska, Alexandru Gudima, Ksenia S. Stankevich, Victor D. Filimonov⁴, Harald Klüter, Evgeniya M. Mamontova, Sergei I. Tverdokhlebov

A46 Prediction and prevention of adverse health effects by meteorological factors: Biomarker patterns and creation of a device for self-monitoring and integrated care

Ulyana B. Lushchyk, Viktor V. Novytskyy, Igor P. Babii, Nadiya G. Lushchyk, Lyudmyla S. Riabets, Ivanna I. Legka

A47 Targeting "disease signatures" towards personalized healthcare

Mira Marcus-Kalish, Alexis Mitelpunkt, Tal Galili, Neta Shachar, Yoav Benjamini

A48 Influence of the skin imperfection on the personal quality of life and possible tools for objective diagnosis

Agnieszka Migasiewicz, Markus Pelleter, Joanna Bauer, Ewelina Dereń, Halina Podbielska

A49 The new direction in caries prevention based on the ultrastructure of dental hard tissues and filling materials

Natalia S. Moiseeva, Anatoly A. Kunin, Dmitry A. Kunin

A50 The use of LED radiation in prevention of dental diseases

Natalia S. Moiseeva, Yury A. Ippolitov, Dmitry A. Kunin, Alexei N. Morozov, Natalia V. Chirkova, Nakhid T. Aliev

A51 Status of endothelial progenitor cells in diabetic nephropathy: predictive and preventive potentials

Mahmood S. Mozaffari, Jun Yao Liu, Babak Baban

A52 The status of glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper protein in salivary gland in Sjögren’s syndrome: predictive and personalized treatment potentials

Mahmood S. Mozaffari, Jun Yao Liu, Rafik Abdelsayed, Xing-Ming Shi, Babak Baban

A53 Maximal aerobic capacity - important quality marker of health

Jaroslav Novák, Milan Štork, Václav Zeman

A54 The EMPOWER project: laboratory medicine and Horizon 2020

Wytze P. Oosterhuis, Elvar Theodorsson

A55 Personality profile manifestations in patient’s attitude to oral care and adherence to doctor’s prescriptions

Lyudmila Y. Orekhova, Tatyana V. Kudryavtseva, Elena R. Isaeva, Vadim V. Tachalov, Ekaterina S. Loboda

A56 Results of an European survey on personalized medicine addressed to directions of laboratory medicine

Mario Pazzagli, Francesca Malentacchi, Irene Mancini, Ivan Brandslund, Pieter Vermeersch, Matthias Schwab, Janja Marc, Ron H.N. van Schaik, Gerard Siest, Elvar Theodorsson, Chiara Di Resta

A57 MCI or early dementia predictive speech based diagnosis techniques

Matus Pleva, Jozef Juhar

A58 Personalized speech based mobile application for eHealth

Matus Pleva, Jozef Juhar

A59 Circulating tumor cell-free DNA as the biomarker in the management of cancer patients

Jiří Polívka jr., Filip Janků, Martin Pešta, Jan Doležal, Milena Králíčková, Jiří Polívka

A60 Complex stroke care – educational programme in Stroke Centre University Hospital Plzen

Jiří Polívka, Alena Lukešová, Nina Müllerová, Petr Ševčík, Vladimír Rohan

A61 Sleep apnea and sleep fragmentation contribute to brain aging

Kneginja Richter, Lence Miloseva, Günter Niklewski

A62 Personalised approach for sleep disturbances in shift workers

Kneginja Richter, Jens Acker, Guenter Niklewski

A63 Medical travel and innovative PPPM clusters: new concept of integration

Olga Safonicheva, Vincenzo Costigliola

A64 Medical travel and women health

Olga Safonicheva

A65 Continuity of generations in the training of specialists in the field of reconstructive microsurgery

Maxim Sautin, Janna Sinelnikova, Sergey Suchkov

A66 Telemonitoring of stroke patients – empirical evidence of individual risk management results from an observational study in Germany

Songül Secer, Stephan von Bandemer

A67 Women’s increasing breast cancer risk with n-6 fatty acid intake explained by estrogen-fatty acid interactive effect on DNA damage: implications for gender-specific nutrition within personalized medicine

Niva Shapira

A68 Cytobacterioscopy of the gingival crevicular fluid as a method for preventive diagnosis of periodontal diseases

Aleksandr Shcherbakov, Anatoly A. Kunin, Natalia S. Moiseeva

A69 Use of specially treated composites in dentistry to avoid violations of aesthetics

Bogdan R. Shumilovich, Zhanna Lipkind, Yulia Vorobieva, Dmitry A. Kunin, Anastasiia V. Sudareva

A70 National eHealth system – platform for preventive, predictive and personalized diabetes care

Ivica Smokovski, Tatjana Milenkovic

A72 The common energy levels of Prof. Szent-Györgyi, the intrinsic chemistry of melanin, and the muscle physiopathology. Implications in the context of Preventive, Predictive, and Personalized Medicine

Arturo Solís-Herrera, María del Carmen Arias-Esparza, Sergey Suchkov

A73 Plurality and individuality of hepatocellular carcinoma: PPPM perspectives

Krishna Chander Sridhar, Olga Golubnitschaja

A74 Strategic aspects of higher medical education reforms to secure newer educational platforms for getting biopharma professionals matures

Maria Studneva, Sihong Song, James Creeden, Мark Мandrik, Sergey Suchkov

A75 Overview of the strategies and activities of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, (EFLM)

Elvar Theodorsson, EFLM

A76 New spectroscopic techniques for point of care label free diagnostics

Syed A. M. Tofail

A77 Tumor markers for personalized medicine and oncology - the role of Laboratory Medicine

Ondřej Topolčan, Judita Kinkorová, Ondřej Fiala, Marie Karlíková, Šárka Svobodová, Radek Kučera, Radka Fuchsová, Vladislav Třeška, Václav Šimánek, Ladislav Pecen, Jan Šoupal, Štěpán Svačina²

A78 Modern medical terminology (MMT) as a driver of the global educational reforms

Evgeniya Tretyak, Maria Studneva, Sergey Suchkov

A79 Juvenile hypertension; the relevance of novel predictive, preventive and personalized assessment of its determinants

Francesca M. Trovato, G. Fabio Martines, Daniela Brischetto, Daniela Catalano, Giuseppe Musumeci, Guglielmo M. Trovato

A80 Proteomarkers Biotech

George Th. Tsangaris, Athanasios K. Anagnostopoulos

A81 Proteomics and mass spectrometry based non-invasive prenatal testing of fetal health and pregnancy complications

George Th. Tsangaris, Athanasios K. Anagnostopoulos

A82 Integrated Ecosystem for an Integrated Care model for Heart Failure (HF) patients including related comorbidities (ZENITH)

José Verdú, German Gutiérrez, Jordi Rovira, Marta Martinez, Lutz Fleischhacker, Donna Green, Arthur Garson, Elena Tamburini, Stefano Cuomo, Juan Martinez-Leon, Teresa Abrisqueta, Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca, Tiny Jaarsma, Teresa Arredondo, Cecilia Vera, Giuseppe Fico, Olga Golubnitschaja, Fernando Arribas, Martina Onderco, Isabel Vara, on behalf of ZENITH consortium

A83 Predictive, preventive and personalized medicine in diabetes onset and complication (MOSAIC project)

José Verdú, Francesco Sambo, Barbara Di Camillo, Claudio Cobelli, Andrea Facchinetti, Giuseppe Fico, Riccardo Bellazzi, Lucia Sacchi, Arianna Dagliati, Daniele Segnani, Valentina Tibollo, Manuel Ottaviano, Rafael Gabriel, Leif Groop, Jacqueline Postma, Antonio Martinez, Liisa Hakaste, Tiinamaija Tuomi, Konstantia Zarkogianni, on behalf of MOSAIC consortium

A84 Possibilities for personalized therapy of diabetes using in vitro screening of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents

Igor Volchek, Nina Pototskaya, Andrey Petrov

A85 The innovative technology for personalized therapy of human diseases based on in vitro drug screening

Igor Volchek, Nadezhda Pototskaya, Andrey Petrov

A86 Bone destruction and temporomandibular joint: predictive markers, pathogenetic aspects and quality of life

Ülle Voog-Oras, Oksana Jagur, Edvitar Leibur, Priit Niibo, Triin Jagomägi, Minh Son Nguyen, Chris Pruunsild, Dagmar Piikov, Mare Saag

A87 Sub-optimal health management – global vision for concepts in medical travel

Wei Wang

A88 Sub-optimal health management: synergic PPPM-TCAM approach

Wei Wang

A89 Innovative technologies for minimal invasive diagnostics

Andreas Weinhäusel, Walter Pulverer, Matthias Wielscher, Manuela Hofner, Christa Noehammer, Regina Soldo, Peter Hettegger, Istvan Gyurjan, Ronald Kulovics, Silvia Schönthaler, Gabriel Beikircher, Albert Kriegner, Stephan Pabinger, Klemens Vierlinger

A90 Rare disease diobanks for personalized medicine

Ayşe Yüzbaşıoğlu, Meral Özgüç, Member of EuroBioBank - European Network of DNA, Cell and Tissue Banks for Rare Diseases

Natural Compounds from Saffron and Bear Bile Prevent Vision Loss and Retinal Degeneration

All retinal disorders, regardless of their aetiology, involve the activation of oxidative stress and apoptosis pathways. The administration of neuroprotective factors is crucial in all phases of the pathology, even when vision has been completely lost. The retina is one of the most susceptible tissues to reactive oxygen species damage. On the other hand, proper development and functioning of the retina requires a precise balance between the processes of proliferation, differentiation and programmed cell death. The life-or-death decision seems to be the result of a complex balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic signals. It has been recently shown the efficacy of natural products to slow retinal degenerative process through different pathways. In this review, we assess the neuroprotective effect of two compounds used in the ancient pharmacopoeia. On one hand, it has been demonstrated that administration of the saffron constituent safranal to P23H rats, an animal model of retinitis pigmentosa, preserves photoreceptor morphology and number, the capillary network and the visual response. On the other hand, it has been shown that systemic administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), the major component of bear bile, to P23H rats preserves cone and rod structure and function, together with their contact with postsynaptic neurons. The neuroprotective effects of safranal and TUDCA make these compounds potentially useful for therapeutic applications in retinal degenerative diseases.

Investigating fusion plasma instabilities in the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak using mega electron volt proton emissions (invited)

The proton detector (PD) measures 3 MeV proton yield distributions from deuterium-deuterium fusion reactions within the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST). The PD's compact four-channel system of collimated and individually oriented silicon detectors probes different regions of the plasma, detecting protons (with gyro radii large enough to be unconfined) leaving the plasma on curved trajectories during neutral beam injection. From first PD data obtained during plasma operation in 2013, proton production rates (up to several hundred kHz and 1 ms time resolution) during sawtooth events were compared to the corresponding MAST neutron camera data. Fitted proton emission profiles in the poloidal plane demonstrate the capabilities of this new system.

Gradual morphogenesis of retinal neurons in the peripheral retinal margin of adult monkeys and humans

The adult mammalian retina has for long been considered to lack a neurogenerative capacity. However, retinal stem/progenitor cells, which can originate retinal neurons in vitro, have been recently reported in the ciliary body of adult mammals. Here we explored the possibility of retinal neurogenesis occurring in vivo in adult monkeys and humans. We found the presence of cells expressing molecular markers of neural and retinal progenitors in the nonlaminated retinal margin and ciliary body pars plana of mature primates. By means of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy we also observed photoreceptors and other retinal cell types in different stages of morphological differentiation along the peripheral retinal margin. These findings allow us to extend to primates the idea of neurogenesis aimed at retinal cell turnover throughout life.

Antibacterial and free-radical scavenging activities of Sonoran propolis

AIMS

To evaluate the antibacterial and free-radical scavenging (FRS) activities of propolis collected from three different areas of Sonoran Desert in northwestern Mexico [Pueblo de Alamos (PAP), Ures (UP) and Caborca (CP)].

METHODS AND RESULTS

The antibacterial and FRS activities of Sonoran propolis were determined by the broth microdilution method and the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydracyl) assay, respectively. Propolis samples had antibacterial activity against only Gram-positive bacteria. The UP sample showed the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 100 microg ml(-1)] in a concentration-dependent manner (UP > CP > PAP). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a UP propolis constituent, had very high growth-inhibitory activity towards Gram-positive bacteria, particularly against S. aureus (MIC 0.1 mmol l(-1)). To our knowledge, this is the first study showing a strong antibacterial activity of CAPE against S. aureus. Additionally, propolis CP exhibited high FRS activity (86% +/- 0.3 at 100 microg ml(-1)) comparable with those of the reference antioxidants vitamin C (87.4% +/- 1.7 at 70 micromol l(-1)) and BHT (66.07% +/- 0.76 at 140 micromol l(-1)). The propolis compounds CAPE and rutin showed high FRS activity (90.4% +/- 0.2 and 88.5% +/- 0.8 at 70 micromol l(-1), respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Sonoran propolis UP and CAPE had strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus. In addition, propolis CP showed potent FRS activity comparable with those of vitamin C and BHT.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The strong antibacterial and antioxidant properties of Sonoran propolis and some of its constituents support further studies on the clinical applications of this natural bee product against S. aureus and several oxidative damage-related diseases.

Alpha synuclein gene expression profile in the retina of vertebrates

PURPOSE

Alpha-synuclein is a Parkinson's disease-linked protein of ubiquitous expression in the central nervous system. It has a proposed role in the modulation of neurotransmission and synaptic function. This study was aimed at analyzing expression of the alpha-synuclein gene in the normal retina, and characterizing its pattern of distribution in the different retinal cell types and layers in a variety of vertebrates, ranging from fish to humans.

METHODS

Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting were used to assess alpha-synuclein expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Its retinal distribution profile was characterized by immunohistochemical methods. With this purpose, retinal sections were analyzed under fluorescent confocal microscopy using specific antibodies against alpha-synuclein, alone and in double or triple combinations with a set of antibodies to molecular markers for the distinct retinal neuronal types. Also, synaptophysin was used as a marker for synaptic vesicles in the retina.

RESULTS

Alpha-synuclein mRNA and protein were expressed by both retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and neural retinal cells. The pattern of alpha-synuclein distribution in the retina was quite consistent across all vertebrate species examined. A strong immunoreactivity was found in the outer segments (OS) of photoreceptors and in their axon terminals (cone pedicles and rod spherules) in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) of the retina. Alpha-synuclein was also present in rod and cone bipolar cells, as well as in GABAergic and glycinergic amacrines, distributing along a complex plexus throughout the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Additionally, colocalization was found between alpha-synuclein and synaptophysin at presynaptic terminals of the retina. Alpha-synuclein-positive phagosome-like structures were observed in the cytoplasm of RPE cells.

CONCLUSIONS

An involvement of alpha-synuclein can be postulated in neurotransmission at axon terminals of photoreceptors in the OPL, and at presynaptic endings of bipolar and amacrine cells in the IPL. As well, this protein could have a role in the function as well as the maintenance of photoreceptor OS. Alpha-synuclein contained in RPE cells should derive not only from protein expression by this cell type, but also from their phagocytosis of OS disc membranes.

NK cell receptors involved in the response to human cytomegalovirus infection

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a paradigm of the complexity reached by host-pathogen interactions. To avoid recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) HCMV inhibits the expression of HLA class I molecules. As a consequence, engagement of inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR), CD94/NKG2A, and CD85j (ILT2 or LIR-1) natural killer cell receptors (NKR) specific for HLA class I molecules is impaired, and infected cells become vulnerable to an NK cell response driven by activating receptors. In addition to the well-defined role of the NKG2D lectin-like molecule, the involvement of other triggering receptors (i.e., activating KIR, CD94/NKG2C, NKp46, NKp44, and NKp30) in the response to HCMV is being explored. To escape from NK cell-mediated surveillance, HCMV interferes with the expression of NKG2D ligands in infected cells. In addition, the virus may keep NK inhibitory receptors engaged preserving HLA class I molecules with a limited role in antigen presentation (i.e., HLA-E) or, alternatively, displaying class I surrogates. Despite considerable progress in the field, a number of issues regarding the involvement of NKR in the innate immune response to HCMV remain uncertain.

Progressive hepatocytic fatty infiltration in rats with prehepatic portal hypertension

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Homogenous evolution, with a narrow range of portal hypertension, degree of portosystemic shunt and hepatic atrophy has been described in the experimental model of prehepatic portal hypertension in the rat. However the great differences observed in the rats' liver weight could be attributed to a pathological alteration of the liver. Based on this, we performed an evolutive histological study of the liver. This study shows the existence of a progressive hepatocytic fatty infiltration.

METHODOLOGY

Male Wistar rats with portal hypertension induced by triple stenosing ligation of the portal vein at 1 month (group II, n=4) and at 1 year (group IV, n=10) of postoperative evolution were used. The portal pressure, body, liver and splenic weights, types of collateral circulation and degree of mesenteric venous congestion were studied. The intracytoplasmatic lipid microvacuoles were quantified in hepatocytes with an image analyzer (software MIP/CID, Spain). The results were compared with those obtained in control rats with the same evolutive periods (Groups I and III).

RESULTS

The hepatic fatty infiltration in Group II (TPVS 1 month) (30.12+/-53.92 micron2) is similar to that presented by Group III (Control 1 year) (16.52+/-45.20 micron2), while there is an increase (p<0.001) in Group IV (triple portal vein stenosis 1 year) (182.03+/-371.42 micron2) in relation to the other groups studied. The progressive hepatic fatty infiltration in triple portal vein stenosis rats is associated with a decrease of portal pressure and of the incidence of liver hepatic atrophy, portosystemic collateral circulation and mesenteric venous congestion.

CONCLUSIONS

TPVS produces progressive hepatocytic fatty infiltration in the rat so that this prehepatic portal hypertension experimental model could also be considered as a hepatic steatosis model.

Progressive hepatocytic fatty infiltration in rats with prehepatic portal hypertension

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Homogenous evolution, with a narrow range of portal hypertension, degree of portosystemic shunt and hepatic atrophy has been described in the experimental model of prehepatic portal hypertension in the rat. However the great differences observed in the rats' liver weight could be attributed to a pathological alteration of the liver. Based on this, we performed an evolutive histological study of the liver. This study shows the existence of a progressive hepatocytic fatty infiltration.

METHODOLOGY

Male Wistar rats with portal hypertension induced by triple stenosing ligation of the portal vein at 1 month (group II, n=4) and at 1 year (group IV, n=10) of postoperative evolution were used. The portal pressure, body, liver and splenic weights, types of collateral circulation and degree of mesenteric venous congestion were studied. The intracytoplasmatic lipid microvacuoles were quantified in hepatocytes with an image analyzer (software MIP/CID, Spain). The results were compared with those obtained in control rats with the same evolutive periods (Groups I and III).

RESULTS

The hepatic fatty infiltration in Group II (TPVS 1 month) (30.12+/-53.92 micron2) is similar to that presented by Group III (Control 1 year) (16.52+/-45.20 micron2), while there is an increase (p<0.001) in Group IV (triple portal vein stenosis 1 year) (182.03+/-371.42 micron2) in relation to the other groups studied. The progressive hepatic fatty infiltration in triple portal vein stenosis rats is associated with a decrease of portal pressure and of the incidence of liver hepatic atrophy, portosystemic collateral circulation and mesenteric venous congestion.

CONCLUSIONS

TPVS produces progressive hepatocytic fatty infiltration in the rat so that this prehepatic portal hypertension experimental model could also be considered as a hepatic steatosis model.

Morphological impairments in retinal neurons of the scotopic visual pathway in a monkey model of Parkinson's disease

Physiological abnormalities resulting from death of dopaminergic neurons of the central nervous system in Parkinson's disease also extend to the retina, resulting in impaired visual functions. In both parkinsonian patients and animal models, low levels of dopamine and loss of dopaminergic cells in the retina have been reported. However, the morphology and connectivity of their postsynaptic neurons, the amacrine cells, have not been analyzed. Here we report, with macaques chronically treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) as a model of Parkinson's disease, that morphological impairments in dopaminergic retinal neurons and their plexus in the inner retina are accompanied by an immunoreactivity decrease in gamma-aminobutyric acidergic and glycinergic amacrine cells. Especially deteriorated were AII amacrine cells, the main neuronal subtype postsynaptic to dopaminergic cells, which exhibited a marked loss of lobular appendages and dendritic processes. Concomitantly, electrical synapses among AII cells, as well as chemical synapses between these and rod bipolar cells, were highly deteriorated in parkinsonian monkeys. These results highlight that the scotopic visual pathway is severely impaired in the parkinsonian condition and provide a morphological basis for a number of abnormalities found in electrophysiological and psychophysical trials in Parkinson's disease patients and animal models.

Natural killer cell receptors for major histocompatibility complex class I and related molecules in cytomegalovirus infection

Downmodulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules by cytomegalovirus (CMV) impairs the engagement of specific leucocyte-inhibitory receptors, rendering infected cells vulnerable to natural killer (NK) cells. Members of the murine Ly49 and human KIR families, CD85j (ILT2 or leucocyte Ig-like receptor-1), as well as the CD94/NKG2A-inhibitory killer lectin-like receptor (KLR) fulfil this surveillance role. On the other hand, NK-activating receptors specific to ligands expressed on virus-infected cells may overcome the control by inhibitory receptors. In this regard, NKG2D and Ly49H lectin-like molecules trigger NK-cell functions recognizing, respectively class I-related stress-inducible molecules and the m157 murine CMV glycoprotein. Among a variety of immune evasion strategies, CMV promotes the synthesis of class I surrogates and selectively preserves the expression of some class I molecules in infected cells; moreover, CMV interferes with the expression of ligands for NKG2D. We herein review these aspects of the host-pathogen interaction, discussing a number of open issues.

Immune checkpoints in viral latency

The dynamics of the relationship between the immune system and latent viruses are highly complex. Latent viruses not only avoid elimination by the host's primary immune response, they also remain with the host for life in the presence of strong acquired immunity, often exhibiting periodic reactivation and recurrence from the latent state. The continual battle between reemergent infectious virus and immunological memory cells provides an essential virus-host regulatory loop in latency. In this review, we speculate on the critical importance of immune interference mechanisms by viruses contributing to the regulatory loop in viral homeostasis of latency. Central to the notion of viral homeostasis, we further invoke the concept of threshold limits in naive and memory states of immunity to account for the failure of the host to completely eradicate these intracellular parasites.

Lymphotoxins and cytomegalovirus cooperatively induce interferon-beta, establishing host-virus détente

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related cytokines regulate cell death and survival and provide strong selective pressures for viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), to evolve counterstrategies in order to persist in immune-competent hosts. Signaling by the lymphotoxin (LT)-beta receptor or TNF receptor-1, but not Fas or TRAIL receptors, inhibits the cytopathicity and replication of human CMV by a nonapoptotic, reversible process that requires nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B)-dependent induction of interferon-beta (IFN-beta). Efficient induction of IFN-beta requires virus infection and LT signaling, demonstrating the need for both host and viral factors in the curtailment of viral replication without cellular elimination. LT alpha-deficient mice and LT beta R-Fc transgenic mice were profoundly susceptible to murine CMV infection. Together, these results reveal an essential and conserved role for LTs in establishing host defense to CMV.

Assessing conservation biology priorities through the development of biodiversity indicators

Biodiversity erosion is now a recognized phenomenon within the scientific community, and it is understood that there is an urgent need for action to relieve this loss. However, no consensus exists on how to go about achieving this goal. This is due to two kinds of problems: namely, that there are many different reasons which can motivate conservation attempts and hence they can lead to different priorities, sometimes in direct contrast with one another; and that of the complexity of the natural world which we have to operate in. Regarding the latter, several authors have lamented a severe lack of theoretical support for many conservation decisions. We briefly review some of the criteria that are commonly adopted in conservation, and indicate some of their problems; we then introduce a new theoretical framework based on the use of a series of biological indicators, many of which have already been proposed in the past but never fully explained and/or adopted. In addition, we propose two indices for one of these potential indicators, i.e. evolutionary potential. We conclude with an appeal for a greater collaboration between conservation scientists and evolutionary biologists, in order to encompass evolutionary evidence in the decision-making process. In doing so, we hope to increase the chances of successful conservation efforts.

Dominance of virus over host factors in cross-species activation of human cytomegalovirus early gene expression

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) exhibits a highly restricted host range. In this study, we sought to examine the relative significance of host and viral factors in activating early gene expression of the HCMV UL54 (DNA polymerase) promoter in murine cells. Appropriate activation of the UL54 promoter at early times is essential for viral DNA replication. To study how the HCMV UL54 promoter is activated in murine cells, a transgenesis system based on yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) was established for HCMV. A 178-kb YAC, containing a subgenomic fragment of HCMV encompassing the majority of the unique long (UL) region, was constructed by homologous recombination in yeast. This HCMV YAC backbone is defective for viral growth and lacks the major immediate-early (IE) gene region, thus permitting the analysis of essential cis-acting sequences when complemented in trans. To quantitatively measure the level of gene expression, we generated HCMV YACs containing a luciferase reporter gene inserted downstream of either the UL54 promoter or, as a control for late gene expression, the UL86 promoter, which directs expression of the major capsid protein. To determine the early gene activation pathway, point mutations were introduced into the inverted repeat 1 (IR1) element of the UL54 promoter of the HCMV YAC. In the transgenesis experiments, HCMV YACs and derivatives generated in yeast were introduced into NIH 3T3 murine cells by polyethylene glycol-mediated fusion. We found that infection of YAC, but not plasmid, transgenic lines with HCMV was sufficient to fully recapitulate the UL54 expression program at early times of infection, indicating the importance of remote regulatory elements in influencing regulation of the UL54 promoter. Moreover, YACs containing a mutant IR1 in the UL54 promoter led to reduced ( approximately 30-fold) reporter gene expression levels, indicating that HCMV major IE gene activation of the UL54 promoter is fully permissive in murine cells. In comparison with HCMV, infection of YAC transgenic NIH 3T3 lines with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) resulted in lower (more than one order of magnitude) efficiency in activating UL54 early gene expression. MCMV is therefore not able to fully activate HCMV early gene expression, indicating the significance of virus over host determinants in the cross-species activation of key early gene promoters. Finally, these studies show that YAC transgenesis can be a useful tool in functional analysis of viral proteins and control of gene expression for large viral genomes.

The major immediate-early gene ie3 of mouse cytomegalovirus is essential for viral growth

The significance of the major immediate-early gene ie3 of mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and that of the corresponding ie2 gene of human cytomegalovirus to viral replication are not known. To investigate the function of the MCMV IE3 regulatory protein, we generated two different MCMV recombinants that contained a large deletion in the IE3 open reading frame (ORF). The mutant genomes were constructed by the bacterial artificial chromosome mutagenesis technique, and MCMV ie3 deletion mutants were reconstituted on a mouse fibroblast cell line that expresses the MCMV major immediate-early genes. The ie3 deletion mutants failed to replicate on normal mouse fibroblasts even when a high multiplicity of infection was used. The replication defect was rescued when the IE3 protein was provided in trans by a complementing cell line. A revertant virus in which the IE3 ORF was restored was able to replicate with wild-type kinetics in normal mouse fibroblasts, providing evidence that the defective growth phenotype of the ie3 mutants was due to disruption of the ie3 gene. To characterize the point of restriction in viral replication that is controlled by ie3, we analyzed the pattern of expression of selective early (beta) and late (gamma) genes. While we could detect transcripts for the immediate-early gene ie1 in cells infected with the ie3 mutants, we failed to detect transcripts for representative beta and gamma genes. These data demonstrate that the MCMV transactivator IE3 plays an indispensable role during viral replication in tissue culture, implicating a similar role for the human CMV ie2 gene product. To our knowledge, the ie3 deletion mutants represent the first MCMV recombinants isolated that contain a disruption of an essential gene.

Principles of homeostasis in governing virus activation and latency

The goal of our work is to understand, from the molecular to the organismal level, the principles that drive and sustain lifelong infection by viruses. These infectious agents live in a dynamic equilibrium (homeostasis) with their hosts in which both immune and nonimmune pathways contribute to viral homeostasis. Disruption of these pathways can have dramatic consequences on pathogenesis. Immune responses to infection provide a vital countermeasure by the host but are nonsterilizing. They effect an essential and primary control mechanism for viral growth. Essential nonimmune pathways for effecting control of a viral life cycle relate to the obligate dependency of the virus on its host. For these reasons, we view infections as a highly dynamic interplay that takes place between the pathogen and host. This, in many cases, leads to the establishment of an incurable lifelong infection that remains benign but can become life threatening once key homeostatic pathways are disrupted. We discuss these issues in the context of our studies using cytomegalovirus as a clinically relevant pathogen.

Regulation of transporter associated with antigen processing by phosphorylation

The ATP-binding cassette transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) is required for transport of antigenic peptides, generated by proteasome complexes in the cytoplasm, into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum where assembly with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules takes place. The TAP transporter is a heterodimer of TAP1 and TAP2. Here we show that both TAP1 and TAP2 are phosphorylated under physiological conditions. Phosphorylation induces formation of high molecular weight TAP complexes that contain TAP1, TAP2, tapasin, and class I heterodimers. In addition, a 43-kDa phosphoprotein, which appears to be a kinase, is contained in the phosphorylated TAP-containing complexes. Phosphorylated TAP complexes are able to bind peptides and ATP, however, they are not capable of transporting peptides. After de-phosphorylation, TAP complexes regain the ability to transport peptides. Interestingly, phosphorylation levels of TAP complexes induced by viral infection inversely correlates with a significant reduction in TAP-dependent peptide transport activity. Enhanced TAP phosphorylation appears to be one of several strategies that viruses have exploited to better escape from host immune surveillance. These results demonstrate that major histocompatibility complex class I antigen processing and presentation is modulated by reversible TAP phosphorylation, and implicate the importance of TAP phosphorylation in the regulation of cytotoxic immune response.

Identification of a boundary domain adjacent to the potent human cytomegalovirus enhancer that represses transcription of the divergent UL127 promoter

Transcriptional repression within a complex modular promoter may play a key role in determining the action of enhancer elements. In human cytomegalovirus, the major immediate-early promoter (MIEP) locus contains a highly potent and complex modular enhancer. Evidence is presented suggesting that sequences of the MIEP between nucleotide positions -556 and -673 function to prevent transcription activation by enhancer elements from the UL127 open reading frame divergent promoter. Transient transfection assays of reporter plasmids revealed repressor sequences located between nucleotides -556 and -638. The ability of these sequences to confer repression in the context of an infection was shown using recombinant viruses generated from a bacterial artificial chromosome containing an infectious human cytomegalovirus genome. In addition to repressor sequences between -556 and -638, infection experiments using recombinant virus mutants indicated that sequences between -638 and -673 also contribute to repression of the UL127 promoter. On the basis of in vitro transcription and transient transfection assays, we further show that interposed viral repressor sequences completely inhibit enhancer-mediated activation of not only the homologous but also heterologous promoters. These and other experiments suggest that repression involves an interaction of host-encoded regulatory factors with defined promoter sequences that have the property of proximally interfering with upstream enhancer elements in a chromatin-independent manner. Altogether, our findings establish the presence of a boundary domain that efficiently blocks enhancer-promoter interactions, thus explaining how the enhancer can work to selectively activate the MIEP.

Impaired immunoproteasome assembly and immune responses in PA28-/- mice

In vitro PA28 binds and activates proteasomes. It is shown here that mice with a disrupted PA28b gene lack PA28a and PA28b polypeptides, demonstrating that PA28 functions as a hetero-oligomer in vivo. Processing of antigenic epitopes derived from exogenous or endogenous antigens is altered in PA28-/- mice. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses are impaired, and assembly of immunoproteasomes is greatly inhibited in mice lacking PA28. These results show that PA28 is necessary for immunoproteasome assembly and is required for efficient antigen processing, thus demonstrating the importance of PA28-mediated proteasome function in immune responses.

Soluble-polymer supported synthesis of a prostanoid library: identification of antiviral activity

[formula: see text] The prostaglandins are potent natural products taking part in many biological processes. The "convergent generation of diversity" from a "toolbox" of prostanoid components, augmented with additional polymer-supported transformations, can enable construction of valuable libraries. A parallel-pool strategy was used to assemble a small library of prostanoids. The inhibition of a herpes-family virus demonstrated the potential for new drug discovery.

DNA microarrays of the complex human cytomegalovirus genome: profiling kinetic class with drug sensitivity of viral gene expression

We describe, for the first time, the generation of a viral DNA chip for simultaneous expression measurements of nearly all known open reading frames (ORFs) in the largest member of the herpesvirus family, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In this study, an HCMV chip was fabricated and used to characterize the temporal class of viral gene expression. The viral chip is composed of microarrays of viral DNA prepared by robotic deposition of oligonucleotides on glass for ORFs in the HCMV genome. Viral gene expression was monitored by hybridization to the oligonucleotide microarrays with fluorescently labelled cDNAs prepared from mock-infected or infected human foreskin fibroblast cells. By using cycloheximide and ganciclovir to block de novo viral protein synthesis and viral DNA replication, respectively, the kinetic classes of array elements were classified. The expression profiles of known ORFs and many previously uncharacterized ORFs provided a temporal map of immediate-early (alpha), early (beta), early-late (gamma1), and late (gamma2) genes in the entire genome of HCMV. Sequence compositional analysis of the 5' noncoding DNA sequences of the temporal classes, performed by using algorithms that automatically search for defined and recurring motifs in unaligned sequences, indicated the presence of potential regulatory motifs for beta, gamma1, and gamma2 genes. In summary, these fabricated microarrays of viral DNA allow rapid and parallel analysis of gene expression at the whole viral genome level. The viral chip approach coupled with global biochemical and genetic strategies should greatly speed the functional analysis of established as well as newly discovered large viral genomes.

Murine cytomegalovirus infection down-regulates MHC class II expression on macrophages by induction of IL-10

Herpesviruses utilize many strategies for weakening the host immune response. For CMV, this includes avoidance of NK clearance and inhibition of MHC class I and class II presentation pathways. In this study, we report that mouse CMV (MCMV) specifically causes a premature and transient activation of host IL-10 very early in the course of infection, resulting in a dramatic and selective reduction in MHC class II surface expression. The expression of IL-10 is normally late in the immune response to a pathogen, serving to dampen the response by suppression of the production of inflammatory cytokines. In infection of macrophages, we show that MCMV induces the production of IL-10, leading to an early and selective reduction in the expression of MHC class II on the surface of the cells. Inhibition of MHC class II expression was not observed in the presence of neutralizing Abs to IL-10 or in macrophages from IL-10-deficient mice. Moreover, MCMV-infected IL-10-deficient mice developed an early and significantly more robust macrophage MHC class II induction than normal mice. Altogether, our results demonstrate that viral induction of an IL-10 autocrine pathway plays an essential early role in selectively reducing MHC class II expression on the surface of APC prior to stimulation by IFN-gamma.

Defective interleukin (IL)-18-mediated natural killer and T helper cell type 1 responses in IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)-deficient mice

Interleukin (IL)-18 is functionally similar to IL-12 in mediating T helper cell type 1 (Th1) response and natural killer (NK) cell activity but is related to IL-1 in protein structure and signaling, including recruitment of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) to the receptor and activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. The role of IRAK in IL-18-induced responses was studied in IRAK-deficient mice. Significant defects in JNK induction and partial impairment in NF-kappaB activation were found in IRAK-deficient Th1 cells, resulting in a dramatic decrease in interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA expression. In vivo Th1 response to Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide in IFN-gamma production and induction of NK cytotoxicity by IL-18 were severely impaired in IRAK-deficient mice. IFN-gamma production by activated NK cells in an acute murine cytomegalovirus infection was significantly reduced despite normal induction of NK cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that IRAK plays an important role in IL-18-induced signaling and function.

Enhancer requirement for murine cytomegalovirus growth and genetic complementation by the human cytomegalovirus enhancer

The cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer is a highly complex regulatory region containing multiple elements that interact with a variety of host-encoded transcription factors. Many of these sequence elements are conserved among the different species strains of CMV, although the arrangement of the various elements and overall sequence composition of the CMV enhancers differ remarkably. To delineate the importance of this region to a productive infection and to explore the possibility of generating a murine CMV (MCMV) under the control of human CMV (HCMV) genetic elements, the MCMV enhancer was resected and replaced either with nonregulatory sequences or with paralogous sequences from HCMV. The effects of these various deletions and substitutions on viral growth in transfected or infected tissue-culture cells were evaluated. We found that mutations in MCMV that eliminate or substitute for the enhancer with nonregulatory sequences showed a severe deficiency in virus synthesis. This growth defect is effectively complemented by the homologous MCMV enhancer as well as the HCMV enhancer. In the latter case, the chimeric viruses (hybrid MCMV strains) containing the molecularly shuffled human enhancer exhibit infectious kinetics similar to that of parental wild-type and wild-type revertant MCMV. These results also show that open reading frames m124, m124.1, and m125 located within the enhancer region are nonessential for growth of MCMV in cells. Most importantly, we conclude that the enhancer of MCMV is required for optimal infection and that its diverged human counterpart can advantageously replace its role in promoting viral infectivity.

Ligand induction of retinoic acid receptors alters an acute infection by murine cytomegalovirus

Here we report that administration of retinoids can alter the outcome of an acute murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. We show that a crucial viral control element, the major immediate-early enhancer, can be activated by retinoic acid (RA) via multiple RA-responsive elements (DR2) that bind retinoid X receptor-retinoic acid receptor (RAR) heterodimers with apparent dissociation constants ranging from 15 to 33 nM. Viral growth is dramatically increased upon RA treatment of infected tissue culture cells. Using synthetic retinoid receptor-specific agonists and antagonists, we provide evidence that RAR activation in cells is required for mediating the response of MCMV to RA. Oral administration of RA to infected immunocompetent mice selectively exacerbates an infection by MCMV, while cotreatment with an RAR antagonist protects against the adverse effects of RA on MCMV infection. In conclusion, these chemical genetic experiments provide evidence that an RAR-mediated pathway can modulate in vitro and in vivo infections by MCMV.

[Long-term course of blood lipids and body mass index in patients with testicular cancer treated with chemotherapy]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether males with testicular cancer treated with chemotherapy including cisplatin (Qt-C) develop an increase in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and in the body mass index (BMI), which might pose a cardiovascular risk.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-six male patients with the previous diagnosis of testicular carcinoma, and apparently cured now, were studied. Thirty-six were Qt-C treated. The median age was 28 years and the median follow-up 81 months. The other 20 patients, with testicular cancer stage I and who did not require Qt-C, did not differ in mean age nor in the median of follow-up. Twenty healthy males were also studied, and their cholesterol and triglyceride levels and BMI were compared with those in patients treated with Qt-C at the end of follow-up; both group were of similar age. In all patients (prior to diagnosis and yearly up to the end of the study) and in healthy subjects total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured, as well as BMI (weight/height2).

RESULTS

Levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and BMI were not different at diagnosis of testicular cancer, both in patients treated with Qt-C and those not receiving such therapy. When comparing yearly cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both groups of patients during the first 6 years of evolution, no significant differences were observed. Again, no differences were observed between patients treated and not treated with Qt-C at the end of the follow-up period regarding cholesterol (211 +/- 41 vs 219 +/- 44 mg/dl; p = 0.51), triglyceride (128 +/- 57 vs 129 +/- 51 mg/dl; p = 0.94) and BMI (25.7 +/- 3.3 vs 25.5 +/- 3.4 kg/m2; p = 0.86) values. No significant differences were observed in the three parameters between parameters in patients treated with Qt-C at the end of follow-up and in healthy males.

CONCLUSIONS

In males with testicular cancer treated with Qt-C, no long term increase in cholesterol, triglyceride, and BMI values was detected, which might predispose to the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Human cytomegalovirus inhibits antigen presentation by a sequential multistep process

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genomic unique short (US) region encodes a family of homologous genes essential for the inhibition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-mediated antigen presentation during viral infection. Here we show that US3, the only immediate early (IE) gene within the US region, encodes an endoplasmic reticulum-resident glycoprotein that prevents intracellular transport of MHC class I molecules. In contrast to the rapid degradation of newly synthesized MHC class I heavy chains mediated by the early gene product US11, we found that US3 retains stable MHC class I heterodimers in the endoplasmic reticulum that are loaded with peptides while retained in the ER. Consistent with the expression pattern of US3 and US11, MHC class I molecules are retained but not degraded during the IE period of infection. Our data identify the first nonregulatory role of an IE protein of HCMV and suggest that HCMV uses different T-cell escape strategies at different times during the infectious cycle.

Characterization of the sequences of the human cytomegalovirus enhancer that mediate differential regulation by natural and synthetic retinoids

Evidence exists to suggest that human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) may opportunistically use retinoic acid (RA) to advance its own replication, in which transcriptional activation of the viral major immediate-early promoter is a crucial control point. We demonstrate that the enhancer of the viral promoter contains three RA-response-elements that cooperate in mediating RA activation. These elements are direct repeats of two sequence motifs separated by 2 bp (DR2 site, REa) and 5 bp (DR5 sites, REb and c). DNA-binding experiments revealed that each of these elements bind RA receptor (RAR)-retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimers more efficiently than either homodimer. Apparent equilibrium dissociation constants of RAR-RXR heterodimers for sites REa, REb, and REc were estimated to be 5 nm, 10 nm, and 20 nm, respectively. The level of contribution of each of these elements to RA inducibility correlated with the strength of binding by RAR-RXR heterodimers to each site. These experiments demonstrate that RAR and RXR are necessary for RA responsiveness of the viral promoter. Using synthetic RA analogs, which selectively activate RARs and RXRs, the RAR partner within the heterodimeric complex appeared to be sufficient while the RXR partner was insufficient to independently activate transcription. However, joint activation of RARs and RXRs indicated that RXRs (in the presence of a transcriptionally active RAR) could contribute to transactivation. This restricted co-dependent ligand activation of RXR varied depending on the particular response element and the cell context. These studies further indicate that signaling of retinoid receptors (in particular RAR) by RA plays an important role in modulating hCMV infection.

A reliable method for Golgi staining of retina and brain slices

Although the classical Golgi method is a powerful means for structural analysis of the brain, it is generally considered to be an unpredictable technique making anatomists wary of using it. Often, even when successful staining has occurred, deposits of silver chromate crystals on the surface of the tissue obscure examination. This paper describes a simple procedure for Golgi impregnation of retina and brain slices so that good, even staining is obtained and crystal formation is avoided. The most outstanding feature of the method is the consistency of results. This consistency is due to two factors: (1) the accurate determination of the optimal chromation by measuring the rise of pH in the solutions and (2) the uniform penetration of dichromate and silver nitrate to the specimen by using a freely hanging, sandwiching technique. We suggest that the method described here can be applied to other parts of the nervous system and will be a reliable way to identify and better classify new cell types.

Retinoid activation of retinoic acid receptors but not of retinoid X receptors promotes cellular differentiation and replication of human cytomegalovirus in embryonal cells

The susceptibility of human embryonal cell line NT-2/D1 to replicate human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) is dependent on retinoic acid (RA) stimulation. Physiological responses to retinoic acid involve two distinct subfamilies of nuclear receptors, the RA receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), which function by activating transcription as heterodimeric or RXR homodimeric complexes from cis-acting DNA response elements. At present, it is not clear whether the association between these two classes of receptors can lead to multiple distinct induction pathways by signalling one or both receptor partners. Here we have determined, by selectively activating endogenous receptors with novel synthetic ligands specific for either RARs or RXRs, what ligand interaction is physiological in the retinoid receptor pathways necessary for inducing replication of hCMV in differentiated embryonal cells. We show that ligand binding to RAR alone is sufficient and that exclusive ligand activation of RXR is insufficient for inducing replication of hCMV. We also find that differentiation and inhibition of NT-2/D1 cell growth are promoted by compounds that signal the RAR pathway. These results provide direct evidence that RAR ligand-mediated physiological responses are separable and distinct from RXR ligand activation functions. Moreover, our results provide insight into a hormone response pathway for cellular differentiation that might be coopted by hCMV in the host.

Role of thyroid hormones in the maturation of interhemispheric connections in rats

Hypothyroidism causes mental retardation secondary to changes in the organization of the CNS. These changes affect higher brain functions for which interhemispheric transfer of information is crucial. In present study, the anterior commissure (AC) and corpus callosum (CC) of normal (C) and hypothyroid (H) rats has been examined using quantitative electron microscopy. H rats received an antithyroid treatment with methimazole from embryonic day 14 (E14) and surgical thyroidectomy at postnatal day 6 (P6). In the AC, the number of axons (unmyelinated and myelinated) increased from 0.17 x 10(6) axons at E18 to 1.08 x 10(6) axons at P4 and it was almost the same at P180 (1.01 x 10(6) axons). In H rats the number of axons between P14 and P180 was similar to that of C rats. In contrast, there were only 0.11 x 10(6) myelinated axons at P180 resulting in a 66% reduction with respect to C rats (0.36 x 10(6) axons). In the CC of C rats, the number of myelinated axons increased from 1.76 x 10(3) axons at P12 to 3.34 x 10(6) axons at P184. In H rats, there were only 0.84 x 10(6) axons at P184 resulting in a 76% reduction with respect to C rats. This reduction was more important in the posterior sector of the CC (95%) than in the rest (on average 63%). Therefore these results show that thyroid hormones play an important role in the processes involved in the maturation of commissural axons.

Golgi-Colonnier method: correlation of the degree of chromium reduction and pH change with quality of staining

We examined the role of chromium reduction in the Golgi-Colonnier method, correlating the quality of neuronal impregnation with the levels of hexavalent (CrVI) and trivalent (CrIII) chromium in the tissue and in the chromation fluid (CF). The concentrations of both chromium species were assessed by measuring spectrophotometrically the CrVI before and after oxidizing the sample and by calculating the ratio of CrVI to total chromium (chromium ratio, CrR). The CrR was almost identical in the tissue and the CF, decreasing exponentially during chromation due to a progressive consumption of CrVI to form CrIII. Satisfactory cell impregnation was obtained only when the CrR was 0.45-0.7, regardless of other factors. The CrR values could be accurately predicted by the pH increase of the CF; this increase has proven to be a most reliable criterion to decide the endpoint of the chromation process. The dependence of cell staining on the [CrIII], together with the well-known ability of this species to bridge proteins, suggests that the key event for cell impregnation is the cross-linking of neuronal proteins by CrIII polymers.

Mapping and sequence of the gene encoding the African swine fever virion protein of M(r) 11500

The gene encoding the African swine fever virus protein of M(r) 11,500, present in the virus particle, has been mapped and sequenced in the genome of the Vero cell-adapted virus strain BA71V. A serum raised against virion proteins of M(r) 12,000 to 13,000 isolated from polyacrylamide gels was used to screen a plasmid expression library, containing viral DNA random fragments, that expresses viral polypeptides fused to beta-galactosidase. Using this method, we have identified and sequenced the open reading frame (ORF) A137R, which initiates at the right end of the EcoRI A restriction fragment and extends into the EcoRI F fragment. Expression of the protein in Escherichia coli has confirmed that ORF A137R encodes a protein with an M(r) of about 12,000. A specific serum was raised against the E. coli-expressed protein, and has been used to identify the protein encoded by the ORF, which is translated at late times of infection and incorporated into the virus particle. Immunofluorescence experiments have shown that the protein localizes in virus factories.

Inhibition of African swine fever virus binding and infectivity by purified recombinant virus attachment protein p12

The African swine fever virus protein p12, involved in virus attachment to the host cell, has an apparent molecular mass of 17 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions. We have also identified 12- and 10-kDa forms of the p12 protein in infected Vero cells and found that the mature 17-kDa protein is the only form present in virus particles. The p12 protein has been produced in large amounts in Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus. A 17-kDa protein that possessed the biological properties of the viral protein was produced, since it bound to susceptible Vero cells and not to receptor-negative L cells, which do not support virus replication. The binding of the baculovirus-expressed protein p12 to Vero cells was specifically blocked by virus particles. In addition, the recombinant protein purified by immunoaffinity chromatography blocked the specific binding of virus particles to susceptible cells and prevented infection, demonstrating that the p12 protein mediates the attachment of virions to specific receptors and indicating that blocking the p12-mediated interaction between African swine fever virus and receptors in Vero cells can inhibit infection. However, although antibodies specific for protein p12 are induced in natural infections and in animals inoculated with inactivated virus or recombinant protein p12, these antisera did not inhibit virus binding to the host cell or neutralize virus infectivity.

Transcriptional mapping of a late gene coding for the p12 attachment protein of African swine fever virus

The transcriptional characterization of the gene coding for the p12 attachment protein of the African swine fever virus is presented. The results obtained have been used to generate the first detailed transcriptional map of an African swine fever virus late gene. Novel experimental evidence indicating the existence of major differences between the mechanisms controlling the transcription of late genes in African swine fever virus and poxviruses is provided.

Reproducibility of a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for bovine paratuberculosis among eight laboratories

Interlaboratory reproducibility of an absorbed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for detection of bovine serum antibodies to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was evaluated. A panel of 30 bovine sera (15 positives and 15 negatives) was tested in triplicate microtiter wells on each of 2 days at 8 different laboratories. One laboratory had invalid results because of positive or negative serum control optical density (OD) readings beyond the acceptable range specified by the kit. The coefficient of variation (CV) for mean OD values was influenced by low ODs on test negative sera at 2 laboratories, thus the CVs on positive sera were considered a more representative measure of kit reproducibility. Between-well CVs averaged 6.7% +/- 2.8% (mean +/- standard deviation), and between-day CVs averaged 14.5% +/- 9.8% among the 7 laboratories with valid assays on the 15 positive sera. The OD values were converted to positive or negative classifications for each assay well, and the results were compared. Among 1,392 assays in 7 laboratories, 98.6% were in agreement. Eleven of 18 discrepant results were due to a sample that consistently gave OD values near the cutoff for a positive test. Exclusion of that serum from the analysis resulted in a 99.8% rate of agreement among laboratories. Results indicated that the absorbed ELISA kit provided reproducible results within and between laboratories.

Virus-host interactions in African swine fever: the attachment to cellular receptors

Biochemical and morphological techniques have shown that African swine fever virus (ASFV) enters susceptible cells by a mechanism of receptor-mediated endocytosis. The virus binds to a specific, saturable site in the cell and this interaction is required for a productive infection. A structural ASFV protein of 12kDa (p12) has been identified to be involved in the recognition of the cellular receptor, on the basis of the specific binding of the polypeptide to sensitive Vero cells. Protein p12 is externally located in the virus particle, forming disulfide-linked dimers with an apparent molecular mass of 17kDa. The gene has been mapped within the central region of the BA71V strain genome. Sequencing analysis has shown the existence of an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 61 amino acids characterized by the presence of a putative transmembrane domain, and a cysteine rich region in the C-terminal part which may be responsible for the dimerization of the protein. Transcripts of the p12 gene were only synthesized during the late phase of the infectious cycle. No posttranslational modifications of the polypeptide, such as glycosylation, phosphorylation or fatty acid acylation, have been found. The comparison of the amino acid sequence of protein p12 from 11 different virus strains has revealed a high degree of conservation of the polypeptide.

Comparison of the sequence of the gene encoding African swine fever virus attachment protein p12 from field virus isolates and viruses passaged in tissue culture

Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the African swine fever virus attachment protein p12 from different field virus isolates, deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the gene, revealed a high degree of conservation. No mutations were found after adaptation to Vero cells, and a polypeptide with similar characteristics was present in an IBRS2-adapted virus. The sequence of the 5' flanking region was conserved among the isolates, whereas sequences downstream of the gene were highly variable in length and contained direct repeats in tandem that may account for the deletions found in different isolates. Protein p12 was synthesized in swine macrophages infected with all of the viruses tested.

Amino acid sequence and structural properties of protein p12, an African swine fever virus attachment protein

The gene encoding the African swine fever virus protein p12, which is involved in virus attachment to the host cell, has been mapped and sequenced in the genome of the Vero-adapted virus strain BA71V. The determination of the N-terminal amino acid sequence and the hybridization of oligonucleotide probes derived from this sequence to cloned restriction fragments allowed the mapping of the gene in fragment EcoRI-O, located in the central region of the viral genome. The DNA sequence of an EcoRI-XbaI fragment showed an open reading frame which is predicted to encode a polypeptide of 61 amino acids. The expression of this open reading frame in rabbit reticulocyte lysates and in Escherichia coli gave rise to a 12-kDa polypeptide that was immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody specific for protein p12. The hydrophilicity profile indicated the existence of a stretch of 22 hydrophobic residues in the central part that may anchor the protein in the virus envelope. Three forms of the protein with apparent molecular masses of 17, 12, and 10 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis have been observed, depending on the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol and alkylation with 4-vinylpyridine, indicating that disulfide bonds are responsible for the multimerization of the protein. This result was in agreement with the existence of a cysteine-rich domain in the C-terminal region of the predicted amino acid sequence. The protein was synthesized at late times of infection, and no posttranslational modifications such as glycosylation, phosphorylation, or fatty acid acylation were detected.