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Hall GR, Hutchings F, Horsley J, Simpson CM, Wang Y, de Tisi J, Miserocchi A, McEvoy AW, Vos SB, Winston GP, Duncan JS, Taylor PN. Epileptogenic networks in extra temporal lobe epilepsy. Netw Neurosci 2023; 7:1351-1362. [PMID: 38144694 PMCID: PMC10631792 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Extra temporal lobe epilepsy (eTLE) may involve heterogenous widespread cerebral networks. We investigated the structural network of an eTLE cohort, at the postulated epileptogenic zone later surgically removed, as a network node: the resection zone (RZ). We hypothesized patients with an abnormal connection to/from the RZ to have proportionally increased abnormalities based on topological proximity to the RZ, in addition to poorer post-operative seizure outcome. Structural and diffusion MRI were collected for 22 eTLE patients pre- and post-surgery, and for 29 healthy controls. The structural connectivity of the RZ prior to surgery, measured via generalized fractional anisotropy (gFA), was compared with healthy controls. Abnormal connections were identified as those with substantially reduced gFA (z < -1.96). For patients with one or more abnormal connections to/from the RZ, connections with closer topological distance to the RZ had higher proportion of abnormalities. The minority of the seizure-free patients (3/11) had one or more abnormal connections, while most non-seizure-free patients (8/11) had abnormal connections to the RZ. Our data suggest that eTLE patients with one or more abnormal structural connections to/from the RZ had more proportional abnormal connections based on topological distance to the RZ and associated with reduced chance of seizure freedom post-surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard R. Hall
- CNNP Lab, Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Frances Hutchings
- CNNP Lab, Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Horsley
- CNNP Lab, Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Callum M. Simpson
- CNNP Lab, Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Yujiang Wang
- CNNP Lab, Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Department of Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jane de Tisi
- Department of Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- UCL/UCLH NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Miserocchi
- Department of Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew W. McEvoy
- Department of Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sjoerd B. Vos
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation, and Analysis, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia
| | - Gavin P. Winston
- Department of Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
| | - John S. Duncan
- Department of Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- UCL/UCLH NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter N. Taylor
- CNNP Lab, Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Department of Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Solovyeva O, Dimairo M, Weir CJ, Hee SW, Espinasse A, Ursino M, Patel D, Kightley A, Hughes S, Jaki T, Mander A, Evans TRJ, Lee S, Hopewell S, Rantell KR, Chan AW, Bedding A, Stephens R, Richards D, Roberts L, Kirkpatrick J, de Bono J, Yap C. Development of consensus-driven SPIRIT and CONSORT extensions for early phase dose-finding trials: the DEFINE study. BMC Med 2023; 21:246. [PMID: 37408015 PMCID: PMC10324137 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02937-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early phase dose-finding (EPDF) trials are crucial for the development of a new intervention and influence whether it should be investigated in further trials. Guidance exists for clinical trial protocols and completed trial reports in the SPIRIT and CONSORT guidelines, respectively. However, both guidelines and their extensions do not adequately address the characteristics of EPDF trials. Building on the SPIRIT and CONSORT checklists, the DEFINE study aims to develop international consensus-driven guidelines for EPDF trial protocols (SPIRIT-DEFINE) and reports (CONSORT-DEFINE). METHODS The initial generation of candidate items was informed by reviewing published EPDF trial reports. The early draft items were refined further through a review of the published and grey literature, analysis of real-world examples, citation and reference searches, and expert recommendations, followed by a two-round modified Delphi process. Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) was pursued concurrently with the quantitative and thematic analysis of Delphi participants' feedback. RESULTS The Delphi survey included 79 new or modified SPIRIT-DEFINE (n = 36) and CONSORT-DEFINE (n = 43) extension candidate items. In Round One, 206 interdisciplinary stakeholders from 24 countries voted and 151 stakeholders voted in Round Two. Following Round One feedback, one item for CONSORT-DEFINE was added in Round Two. Of the 80 items, 60 met the threshold for inclusion (≥ 70% of respondents voted critical: 26 SPIRIT-DEFINE, 34 CONSORT-DEFINE), with the remaining 20 items to be further discussed at the consensus meeting. The parallel PPIE work resulted in the development of an EPDF lay summary toolkit consisting of a template with guidance notes and an exemplar. CONCLUSIONS By detailing the development journey of the DEFINE study and the decisions undertaken, we envision that this will enhance understanding and help researchers in the development of future guidelines. The SPIRIT-DEFINE and CONSORT-DEFINE guidelines will allow investigators to effectively address essential items that should be present in EPDF trial protocols and reports, thereby promoting transparency, comprehensiveness, and reproducibility. TRIAL REGISTRATION SPIRIT-DEFINE and CONSORT-DEFINE are registered with the EQUATOR Network ( https://www.equator-network.org/ ).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Munyaradzi Dimairo
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Christopher J Weir
- Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siew Wan Hee
- University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK
- University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Moreno Ursino
- Inserm, Centre de Recherche Des Cordeliers, Sorbonne UniversitéUniversité Paris Cité, 75006, Paris, France
- HeKA, Inria Paris, 75015, Paris, France
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, AP-HP, CHU Robert Debré, CIC-EC 1426, Paris, France
- RECaP/F-CRIN, Inserm, 5400, Nancy, France
| | | | - Andrew Kightley
- Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Lead, Lichfield, UK
| | | | - Thomas Jaki
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Shing Lee
- Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Sally Hopewell
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - An-Wen Chan
- Department of Medicine, Women's College Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Johann de Bono
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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3
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Wojtowicz EE, Mistry JJ, Uzun V, Hellmich C, Scoones A, Chin DW, Kettyle LM, Grasso F, Lord AM, Wright DJ, Etherington GJ, Woll PS, Belderbos ME, Bowles KM, Nerlov C, Haerty W, Bystrykh LV, Jacobsen SEW, Rushworth SA, Macaulay IC. Panhematopoietic RNA barcoding enables kinetic measurements of nucleate and anucleate lineages and the activation of myeloid clones following acute platelet depletion. Genome Biol 2023; 24:152. [PMID: 37370129 PMCID: PMC10294477 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02976-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Platelets and erythrocytes constitute over 95% of all hematopoietic stem cell output. However, the clonal dynamics of HSC contribution to these lineages remains largely unexplored. RESULTS We use lentiviral genetic labeling of mouse hematopoietic stem cells to quantify output from all lineages, nucleate, and anucleate, simultaneously linking these with stem and progenitor cell transcriptomic phenotypes using single-cell RNA-sequencing. We observe dynamic shifts of clonal behaviors through time in same-animal peripheral blood and demonstrate that acute platelet depletion shifts the output of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells to the exclusive production of platelets. Additionally, we observe the emergence of new myeloid-biased clones, which support short- and long-term production of blood cells. CONCLUSIONS Our approach enables kinetic studies of multi-lineage output in the peripheral blood and transcriptional heterogeneity of individual hematopoietic stem cells. Our results give a unique insight into hematopoietic stem cell reactivation upon platelet depletion and of clonal dynamics in both steady state and under stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta E Wojtowicz
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jayna J Mistry
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Vladimir Uzun
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Charlotte Hellmich
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK
| | - Anita Scoones
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Desmond W Chin
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura M Kettyle
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francesca Grasso
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Allegra M Lord
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Petter S Woll
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Kristian M Bowles
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK
| | - Claus Nerlov
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Wilfried Haerty
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Leonid V Bystrykh
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center of Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sten Eirik W Jacobsen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | | | - Iain C Macaulay
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
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Love SB, Armstrong E, Bayliss C, Boulter M, Fox L, Grumett J, Rafferty P, Temesi B, Wills K, Corkhill A. Monitoring advances including consent: learning from COVID-19 trials and other trials running in UKCRC registered clinical trials units during the pandemic. Trials 2021; 22:279. [PMID: 33853635 PMCID: PMC8045577 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05225-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected how clinical trials are managed, both within existing portfolios and for the rapidly developed COVID-19 trials. Sponsors or delegated organisations responsible for monitoring trials have needed to consider and implement alternative ways of working due to the national infection risk necessitating restricted movement of staff and public, reduced clinical staff resource as research staff moved to clinical areas, and amended working arrangements for sponsor and sponsor delegates as staff moved to working from home.Organisations have often worked in isolation to fast track mitigations required for the conduct of clinical trials during the pandemic; this paper describes many of the learnings from a group of monitoring leads based in United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) Clinical Trials Unit (CTUs) within the UK.The UKCRC Monitoring Task and Finish Group, comprising monitoring leads from 9 CTUs, met repeatedly to identify how COVID-19 had affected clinical trial monitoring. Informed consent is included as a specific issue within this paper, as review of completed consent documentation is often required within trial monitoring plans (TMPs). Monitoring is defined as involving on-site monitoring, central monitoring or/and remote monitoring.Monitoring, required to protect the safety of the patients and the integrity of the trial and ensure the protocol is followed, is often best done by a combination of central, remote and on-site monitoring. However, if on-site monitoring is not possible, workable solutions can be found using only central or central and remote monitoring. eConsent, consent by a third person, or via remote means is plausible. Minimising datasets to the critical data reduces workload for sites and CTU staff. Home working caused by COVID-19 has made electronic trial master files (TMFs) more inviting. Allowing sites to book and attend protocol training at a time convenient to them has been successful and worth pursuing for trials with many sites in the future.The arrival of COVID-19 in the UK has forced consideration of and changes to how clinical trials are conducted in relation to monitoring. Some developed practices will be useful in other pandemics and others should be incorporated into regular use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon B. Love
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, 90 High Holborn, WC1V 6LJ London, UK
| | - Emma Armstrong
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
| | - Carrie Bayliss
- Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, Coton House Level 6, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ UK
| | - Melanie Boulter
- Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, Building 42, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - Lisa Fox
- The Institute of Cancer Research - Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SM2 5NG UK
| | - Joanne Grumett
- Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL UK
| | - Patricia Rafferty
- Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit, Elliot Dynes Building, Royal Hospitals, Belfast, BT12 6BA UK
| | - Barbara Temesi
- Manchester Clinical Trials Unit, The University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
| | - Krista Wills
- Cancer Research UK & UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 4TJ UK
| | - Andrea Corkhill
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton, MP131, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD UK
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Campos M, Ward D, Morales RF, Gomes AR, Silva K, Sepúlveda N, Gomez LF, Clark TG, Campino S. Surveillance of Aedes aegypti populations in the city of Praia, Cape Verde: Zika virus infection, insecticide resistance and genetic diversity. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:481. [PMID: 32958043 PMCID: PMC7507728 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04356-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes spp. are responsible for the transmission of many arboviruses, which contribute to rising human morbidity and mortality worldwide. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a main vector for chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever infections, whose incidence have been increasing and distribution expanding. This vector has also driven the emergence of the Zika virus (ZIKV), first reported in Africa which spread rapidly to Asia and more recently across the Americas. During the outbreak in the Americas, Cape Verde became the first African country declaring a Zika epidemic, with confirmed cases of microcephaly. Here we investigate the prevalence of ZIKV and dengue (DENV) infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in the weeks following the outbreak in Cape Verde, and the presence of insecticide resistance in the circulating vector population. Genetic diversity in the mosquito population was also analysed. METHODS From August to October 2016, 816 Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected in several locations across Praia, Cape Verde, the major hot spot of reported ZIKV cases in the country. All mosquitoes were screened by reverse transcription PCR for ZIKV and DENV, and a subset (n = 220) were screened for knockdown insecticide resistance associated mutations in the voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene by capillary sequencing. The mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (nad4) gene was sequenced in 100 mosquitoes. These data were compared to 977 global sequences in a haplotype network and a phylogenetic tree analysis. RESULTS Two Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were ZIKV positive (0.25%). There were no SNP mutations found in the VGSC gene associated with insecticide resistance. Analysis of the nad4 gene revealed 11 haplotypes in the Cape Verdean samples, with 5 being singletons. Seven haplotypes were exclusive to Cape Verde. Several of the remaining haplotypes were frequent in the global dataset, being present in several countries (including Cape Verde) across five different continents. The most common haplotype in Cape Verde (50.6 %) was also found in Africa and South America. CONCLUSIONS There was low-level Zika virus circulation in mosquitoes from Praia shortly after the outbreak. The Ae. aegypti population did not appear to have the kdr mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance. Furthermore, haplotype and phylogenetic analyses revealed that Cape Verde Ae. aegypti mosquitoes are most closely related to those from other countries in Africa and South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Campos
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Daniel Ward
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Raika Francesca Morales
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ana Rita Gomes
- Laboratory of Pathogen-Host Interactions (LPHI), UMR5235, CNRS, Montpellier University, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Keily Silva
- Universidade Jean Piaget (UniPiaget), Praia, Cabo Verde
| | - Nuno Sepúlveda
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Centre of Statistics and Its Applications of University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Taane G. Clark
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Susana Campino
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Minetti C, Pilotte N, Zulch M, Canelas T, Tettevi EJ, Veriegh FBD, Osei-Atweneboana MY, Williams SA, Reimer LJ. Field evaluation of DNA detection of human filarial and malaria parasites using mosquito excreta/feces. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008175. [PMID: 32267840 PMCID: PMC7170280 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently developed a superhydrophobic cone-based method for the collection of mosquito excreta/feces (E/F) for the molecular xenomonitoring of vector-borne parasites showing higher throughput compared to the traditional approach. To test its field applicability, we used this platform to detect the presence of filarial and malaria parasites in two villages of Ghana and compared results to those for detection in mosquito carcasses and human blood. We compared the molecular detection of three parasites (Wuchereria bancrofti, Plasmodium falciparum and Mansonella perstans) in mosquito E/F, mosquito carcasses and human blood collected from the same households in two villages in the Savannah Region of the country. We successfully detected the parasite DNA in mosquito E/F from indoor resting mosquitoes, including W. bancrofti which had a very low community prevalence (2.5-3.8%). Detection in the E/F samples was concordant with detection in insect whole carcasses and human blood, and a parasite not vectored by mosquitoes was detected as well.Our approach to collect and test mosquito E/F successfully detected a variety of parasites at varying prevalence in the human population under field conditions, including a pathogen (M. perstans) which is not transmitted by mosquitoes. The method shows promise for further development and applicability for the early detection and surveillance of a variety of pathogens carried in human blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Minetti
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nils Pilotte
- Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michael Zulch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tiago Canelas
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Edward J. Tettevi
- Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit, CSIR-Water Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Francis B. D. Veriegh
- Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit, CSIR-Water Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboana
- Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit, CSIR-Water Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Steven A. Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lisa J. Reimer
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Background The Friendship Questionnaire (FQ) is a widely used measure of friendships in autism research and beyond. This study sought to revisit the original paper where the measure was presented, using a larger sample of both autistic and non-autistic participants to examine gender differences in scoring. It also sought to expand upon the original paper by comparing FQ results to those of the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale (URCS), to examine whether there are differences in how autistic people report on their general friendships in contrast to their most significant relationships. Methods Participants were recruited for an online study, and 949 people (532 autistic, 417 non-autistic) aged between 18 and 81 took part. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Autism Quotient-28, the Friendship Questionnaire, and the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale. Results We used robust regressions and Pearson's correlational analyses, conducted in R. Autistic people scored lower than non-autistic people on the FQ, and similar gender differences in the pattern of FQ scores were seen in both groups. There was a significant negative correlation between AQ and FQ scores in both groups. On the URCS, we took the data from those who rated specific close relationships and found that autistic people scored this relationship more highly than non-autistic adults did. There was a significant negative correlation between AQ and URCS scores in both groups. Also, in both groups, there was a significant positive correlation between FQ and URCS scores. Limitations The data is entirely self-report, and diagnoses could not be verified with a clinician, although AQ scores support self-identification as autistic. Also, the groups were not evenly matched on age and other demographic variables, although this was controlled for in analyses. It is also the case that more autistic than non-autistic people were unable to specify a close relationship to score on the URCS, meaning that a certain set of experiences are not represented in this data. Conclusions We conclude that our data replicates the core finding of the original FQ paper that autistic people score lower on the FQ. In contrast to that paper, however, we found that there were gender differences among the autistic population. Also, our inclusion of the URCS suggests that the intimate romantic relationships and best-friendships of autistic people can be of similar quality to those of non-autistic people, suggesting that there may be important differences in autistic people's relations with friends in general versus close friends and romantic partners.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jenni Leppanen
- Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Kate Tchanturia
- Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust National Eating Disorder Service, London, UK
- Psychology Department, Illia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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Smaczynska-de Rooij II, Marklew CJ, Palmer SE, Allwood EG, Ayscough KR. Mutation of key lysine residues in the Insert B region of the yeast dynamin Vps1 disrupts lipid binding and causes defects in endocytosis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215102. [PMID: 31009484 PMCID: PMC6476499 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast dynamin-like protein Vps1 has roles at multiple stages of membrane trafficking including Golgi to vacuole transport, endosomal recycling, endocytosis and in peroxisomal fission. While the majority of the Vps1 amino acid sequence shows a high level of identity with the classical mammalian dynamins, it does not contain a pleckstrin homology domain (PH domain). The Dyn1 PH domain has been shown to bind to lipids with a preference for PI(4,5)P2 and it is considered central to the function of Dyn1 in endocytosis. The lack of a PH domain in Vps1 has raised questions as to whether the protein can function directly in membrane fusion or fission events. Here we demonstrate that the region Insert B, located in a position equivalent to the dynamin PH domain, is able to bind directly to lipids and that mutation of three lysine residues reduces its capacity to interact with lipids, and in particular with PI(4,5)P2. The Vps1 KKK-AAA mutant shows more diffuse staining but does still show some localization to compartments adjacent to vacuoles and to endocytic sites suggesting that other factors are also involved in its recruitment. This mutant selectively blocks endocytosis, but is functional in other processes tested. While mutant Vps1 can localise to endocytic sites, the mutation results in a significant increase in the lifetime of the endocytic reporter Sla2 and a high proportion of defective scission events. Together our data indicate that the lipid binding capacity of the Insert B region of Vps1 contributes to the ability of the protein to associate with membranes and that its capacity to interact with PI(4,5)P2 is important in facilitating endocytic scission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah E. Palmer
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen G. Allwood
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EGA); (KRA)
| | - Kathryn R. Ayscough
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EGA); (KRA)
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