Natterin-like and legumain insect gut proteins promote the multiplication of a vector-borne bacterial plant pathogen.

Phytoplasmas are phloem-limited plant pathogenic bacteria causing diseases in many plant species. They are transmitted by Hemipteran insect species in a persistent-propagative manner. Phytoplasmas are wall-less, and their membrane proteins are involved in pathogen internalization into host cells.

RNA interference protocols for gene silencing in the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius, vector of Xylella fastidiosa.

RNA interference (RNAi) is double stranded RNA (dsRNA)-based gene silencing mechanism. Exogenous dsRNAs application to crops has raised as a powerful tool to control agricultural pests. In particular, several sap-feeder are important plant pathogens vectors, such as Philaenus spumarius, known as main vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), causal agent of olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) in southern Italy.

The sucrose signalling route controls Flavescence dorée phytoplasma load in grapevine leaves.

Flavescence dorée (FD) is a phytoplasma disease transmitted by insects, causing severe damage to vineyards across Europe. Infected plants cannot be cured and must be removed to prevent further spread. Different grapevine cultivars show varying susceptibility to FD, and some exhibit symptom remission, known as recovery, although the mechanisms behind this are unclear.

CCR2 monocytes replenish border-associated macrophages in the diseased mouse brain.

Border-associated macrophages (BAMs) are tissue-resident macrophages that reside at the border of the central nervous system (CNS). Since BAMs originate from yolk sac progenitors that do not persist after birth, the means by which this population of cells is maintained is not well understood. Using two-photon microscopy and multiple lineage-tracing strategies, we determine that CCR2 monocytes are significant contributors to BAM populations following disruptions of CNS homeostasis in adult mice.

Microglial P2Y calcium signaling promotes phagocytosis and shapes neuroimmune responses in epileptogenesis.

Microglial calcium signaling is rare in a baseline state but strongly engaged during early epilepsy development. The mechanism(s) governing microglial calcium signaling are not known. By developing an in vivo uridine diphosphate (UDP) fluorescent sensor, GRAB, we discovered that UDP release is a conserved response to seizures and excitotoxicity across brain regions.

A model for predicting the phenology of Philaenus spumarius.

The design and implementation of Philaenus spumarius control strategies can take advantage of properly calibrated models describing and predicting the phenology of vector populations in agroecosystems. We developed a temperature-driven physiological-based model based on the system of Kolmogorov partial differential equations to predict the phenological dynamics of P. spumarius.

Reversible dementia and insomnia in ABGA related encephalitis.

Background: ABGAs are historically associated with Encephalitis Lethargica (EL). Typically ABGAs are also found in children resulting in a variety of neuropsychiatric and extrapyramidal disorders, rare cases are reported in adults with atypical movement disorders. No description of basal ganglia reversible lesions related to ABGAs are reported and these antibodies are not included in the list of autoimmune encephalitis.

Activity of natural occurring entomopathogenic fungi on nymphal and adult stages of Philaenus spumarius.

The spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) is the predominant vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae) in Apulia, Italy and the rest of Europe. Current control strategies of the insect vector rely on mechanical management of nymphal stages and insecticide application against adult populations. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are biological control agents naturally attacking spittlebugs and may effectively reduce population levels of host species.

Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Differences between Lesions in Incidental and Nonincidental Settings-Considerations on These Clinical Entities and Personal Experience.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) represents 35-40% of all papillary cancers; it is defined as a nodule ≤ 10 mm at the time of histological diagnosis. The clinical significance of PTMC is still controversial, and it may be discovered in two settings: incidental PTMC (iPTMC), in which it is identified postoperatively upon histological examination of thyroid specimens following thyroid surgery for benign disease, and nonincidental PTMC (niPTMC), in which it is diagnosed before surgery. While iPTMC appears to be related to mild behavior and favorable clinical outcomes, niPTMC may exhibit markers of aggressiveness.

Impaired microglial phagocytosis promotes seizure development.

In the central nervous system, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is exclusively expressed by microglia and is critical for microglial proliferation, migration, and phagocytosis. TREM2 plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, little is known about the role TREM2 plays in epileptogenesis.

TREM2 mediates MHCII-associated CD4+ T-cell response against gliomas.

Background: Myeloid cells comprise up to 50% of the total tumor mass in glioblastoma (GBM) and have been implicated in promoting tumor progression and immunosuppression. Modulating the response of myeloid cells to the tumor has emerged as a promising new approach for cancer treatment. In this regard, we focus on the Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2), which has recently emerged as a novel immune modulator in peripheral tumors.

Chemogenetic approaches reveal dual functions of microglia in seizures.

Microglia are key players in maintaining brain homeostasis and exhibit phenotypic alterations in response to epileptic stimuli. However, it is still relatively unknown if these alterations are pro- or anti-epileptic. To unravel this dilemma, we employed chemogenetic manipulation of microglia using the artificial Gi-Dreadd receptor within a kainic acid (KA) induced murine seizure model.

Islets-on-Chip: A Tool for Real-Time Assessment of Islet Function Prior to Transplantation.

Islet transplantation improves metabolic control in patients with unstable type 1 diabetes. Clinical outcomes have been improving over the last decade, and the widely used beta-score allows the evaluation of transplantation results. However, predictive pre-transplantation criteria of islet quality for clinical outcomes are lacking.

Footloose (footloose), footloose.

A 78-year-old woman without past relevant medical history presented to the emergency department for acute transient dysarthria. NIHSS was 0/42. Neurological examination revealed chorea-like movements over the left limbs, especially the foot.

Repeated mild traumatic brain injury triggers pathology in asymptomatic C9ORF72 transgenic mice.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that represent ends of the spectrum of a single disease. The most common genetic cause of FTD and ALS is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene. Although epidemiological data suggest that traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a risk factor for FTD and ALS, its role in exacerbating disease onset and course remains unclear.

Competition among Flavescence Dorée Phytoplasma Strains in the Experimental Insect Vector .

Phytoplasmas are plant pathogenic wall-less bacteria transmitted in a persistent propagative manner by hemipteran insects, mainly belonging to the suborder Auchenorrhyncha (Fulgoromorpha and Cicadomorpha). Flavescence dorée (FD) is a quarantine disease of grapevine, causing great damage to European viticulture and associated with phytoplasmas belonging to 16SrV-C (FD-C) and -D (FD-D) subgroups. FD-C and FD-D strains share similar pathogenicity, but mixed infections are rare in nature.

Expression of ALS-PFN1 impairs vesicular degradation in iPSC-derived microglia.

Microglia play a pivotal role in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying microglia dysfunction and toxicity remain to be fully elucidated. To investigate the effect of neurodegenerative disease-linked genes on the intrinsic properties of microglia, we studied microglia-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), termed iMGs, harboring mutations in profilin-1 (PFN1) that are causative for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS-PFN1 iMGs exhibited lipid dysmetabolism and deficits in phagocytosis, a critical microglia function.