Impact of secreted glucanases upon the cell surface and fitness of during colonisation and infection.

Host recognition of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), β-1,3-glucan, plays a major role in antifungal immunity. β-1,3-glucan is an essential component of the inner cell wall of the opportunistic pathogen . Most β-1,3-glucan is shielded by the outer cell wall layer of mannan fibrils, but some can become exposed at the cell surface.

A transformative shift in urban ecology toward a more active and relevant future for the field and for cities.

This paper builds on the expansion of urban ecology from a biologically based discipline-ecology in the city-to an increasingly interdisciplinary field-ecology of the city-to a transdisciplinary, knowledge to action endeavor-an ecology for and with the city. We build on this "prepositional journey" by proposing a transformative shift in urban ecology, and we present a framework for how the field may continue this shift. We conceptualize that urban ecology is in a state of flux, and that this shift is needed to transform urban ecology into a more engaged and action based field, and one that includes a diversity of actors willing to participate in the future of their cities.

The relational shift in urban ecology: From place and structures to multiple modes of coproduction for positive urban futures.

This perspective emerged from ongoing dialogue among ecologists initiated by a virtual workshop in 2021. A transdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners conclude that urban ecology as a science can better contribute to positive futures by focusing on relationships, rather than prioritizing urban structures. Insights from other relational disciplines, such as political ecology, governance, urban design, and conservation also contribute.

Shifting forward: Urban ecology in perspective.

The world has become urban; cities increasingly shape our worldviews, relation to other species, and the large-scale, long-term decisions we make. Cities are nature, but they need to align better with other ecosystems to avoid accelerating climate change and loss of biodiversity. We need a science to guide urban development across the diverse realities of global cities.

A CO sensing module modulates β-1,3-glucan exposure in .

Microbial species capable of co-existing with healthy individuals, such as the commensal fungus exploit multifarious strategies to evade our immune defenses. These strategies include the masking of immunoinflammatory pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) at their cell surface. We reported previously that actively reduces the exposure of the proinflammatory PAMP, β-1,3-glucan, at its cell surface in response to host-related signals such as lactate and hypoxia.

Glucose-enhanced oxidative stress resistance-A protective anticipatory response that enhances the fitness of Candida albicans during systemic infection.

Most microbes have developed responses that protect them against stresses relevant to their niches. Some that inhabit reasonably predictable environments have evolved anticipatory responses that protect against impending stresses that are likely to be encountered in their niches-termed "adaptive prediction". Unlike yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces lactis and Yarrowia lipolytica and other pathogenic Candida species we examined, the major fungal pathogen of humans, Candida albicans, activates an oxidative stress response following exposure to physiological glucose levels before an oxidative stress is even encountered.

Association of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism and BMI in Patients Undergoing Sports Medicine Knee Procedures: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to characterize the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE; including deep vein thrombosis [DVT] and pulmonary embolism [PE]) after sports medicine knee procedures by a single surgeon at an academic institution, identify factors associated with increased risk of VTE, and determine risk factor thresholds for beyond which VTE risk is elevated.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the prevalence of VTE after sports medicine knee procedures is low, but that increasing weight and body mass index (BMI) would be associated with elevated risk.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

The Candida glabrata Parent Strain Trap: How Phenotypic Diversity Affects Metabolic Fitness and Host Interactions.

Reference strains improve reproducibility by standardizing observations and methodology, which has ultimately led to important insights into fungal pathogenesis. However, recent investigations have highlighted significant genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity across isolates that influence genetic circuitry and virulence within a species. Candida glabrata is the second leading cause of candidiasis, a life-threatening infection, and undergoes extensive karyotype and phenotypic changes in response to stress.

Gastric intestinal metaplasia development in African American predominant United States population.

Background: Gastric cancer significantly contributes to cancer mortality globally. Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a stage in the Correa cascade and a premalignant lesion of gastric cancer. The natural history of GIM formation and progression over time is not fully understood.

Impact of changes at the cell surface upon immunogenicity and colonisation in the gastrointestinal tract.

The immunogenicity of cells is influenced by changes in the exposure of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) on the fungal cell surface. Previously, the degree of exposure on the cell surface of the immunoinflammatory MAMP β-(1,3)-glucan was shown to correlate inversely with colonisation levels in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This is important because life-threatening systemic candidiasis in critically ill patients often arises from translocation of strains present in the patient's GI tract.

Nature of β-1,3-Glucan-Exposing Features on Candida albicans Cell Wall and Their Modulation.

Candida albicans exists as a commensal of mucosal surfaces and the gastrointestinal tract without causing pathology. However, this fungus is also a common cause of mucosal and systemic infections when antifungal immune defenses become compromised. The activation of antifungal host defenses depends on the recognition of fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as β-1,3-glucan.

Cross-Site Comparisons of Dryland Ecosystem Response to Climate Change in the US Long-Term Ecological Research Network.

Long-term observations and experiments in diverse drylands reveal how ecosystems and services are responding to climate change. To develop generalities about climate change impacts at dryland sites, we compared broadscale patterns in climate and synthesized primary production responses among the eight terrestrial, nonforested sites of the United States Long-Term Ecological Research (US LTER) Network located in temperate (Southwest and Midwest) and polar (Arctic and Antarctic) regions. All sites experienced warming in recent decades, whereas drought varied regionally with multidecadal phases.

What 'Omics can tell us about antifungal adaptation.

Invasive candidiasis, the most frequent healthcare-associated invasive fungal infection, is commonly caused by Candida albicans. However, in recent years other antifungal-resistant Candida species-namely Candida glabrata and Candidaauris-have emerged as a serious matter of concern. Much of our understanding of the mechanisms regulating antifungal resistance and tolerance relies on studies utilizing C.

Plant transpiration in constructed treatment wetland: Effects on water budget and management consequences.

Plant transpiration is an important feature of wetlands with biological and hydraulic impacts. The global objective of this study was to question the influence of transpirational water losses on constructed treatment wetland water budget for a variety of wetland design and time of the year. Biomass and transpiration field measurements were carried out in constructed treatment wetlands (CTWs) submitted to oceanic climate and used for waste- or stormwater management.

Immune cells fold and damage fungal hyphae.

Innate immunity provides essential protection against life-threatening fungal infections. However, the outcomes of individual skirmishes between immune cells and fungal pathogens are not a foregone conclusion because some pathogens have evolved mechanisms to evade phagocytic recognition, engulfment, and killing. For example, can escape phagocytosis by activating cellular morphogenesis to form lengthy hyphae that are challenging to engulf.

Epitope Shaving Promotes Fungal Immune Evasion.

The cell wall provides a major physical interface between fungal pathogens and their mammalian host. This extracellular armor is critical for fungal cell homeostasis and survival. Fungus-specific cell wall moieties, such as β-1,3-glucan, are recognized as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that activate immune-mediated clearance mechanisms.

Nine Things Genomics Can Tell Us About .

is a recently emerged multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen causing severe illness in hospitalized patients. is most closely related to a few environmental or rarely observed but cosmopolitan species. However, is unique in the concern it is generating among public health agencies for its rapid emergence, difficulty to treat, and the likelihood for further and more extensive outbreaks and spread.

Impact of the Environment upon the Candida albicans Cell Wall and Resultant Effects upon Immune Surveillance.

The fungal cell wall is an essential organelle that maintains cellular morphology and protects the fungus from environmental insults. For fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans, it provides a degree of protection against attack by host immune defences. However, the cell wall also presents key epitopes that trigger host immunity and attractive targets for antifungal drugs.

Non-canonical signalling mediates changes in fungal cell wall PAMPs that drive immune evasion.

To colonise their host, pathogens must counter local environmental and immunological challenges. Here, we reveal that the fungal pathogen Candida albicans exploits diverse host-associated signals to promote immune evasion by masking of a major pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), β-glucan. Certain nutrients, stresses and antifungal drugs trigger β-glucan masking, whereas other inputs, such as nitrogen sources and quorum sensing molecules, exert limited effects on this PAMP.

Anticipating global terrestrial ecosystem state change using FLUXNET.

Ecosystems can be characterized as complex systems that traverse a variety of functional and structural states in response to changing bioclimatic forcings. A central challenge of global change biology is the robust empirical description of these states and state transitions. An ecosystem's functional state can be empirically described using Process Networks (PN) that use timeseries observations to determine the strength of process-level functional couplings between ecosystem components.

Hypoxia Promotes Immune Evasion by Triggering β-Glucan Masking on the Candida albicans Cell Surface via Mitochondrial and cAMP-Protein Kinase A Signaling.

Organisms must adapt to changes in oxygen tension if they are to exploit the energetic benefits of reducing oxygen while minimizing the potentially damaging effects of oxidation. Consequently, organisms in all eukaryotic kingdoms display robust adaptation to hypoxia (low oxygen levels). This is particularly important for fungal pathogens that colonize hypoxic niches in the host.

High-contrast infrared polymer photonic crystals fabricated by direct laser writing.

One-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals (PCs) were fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) direct laser writing using a single polymer to obtain reflectance values approaching that of a gold reference in the near-infrared (near-IR) spectral range. The PCs are composed of alternating compact and low-density polymer layers that provide the necessary periodic variation of the refractive index. The low-density polymer layers are composed of subwavelength-sized pillars which simultaneously serve as a scaffold while also providing refractive index contrast to the adjacent compact polymer layers.

Growth, Viability, and Death of Planktonic and Biofilm Sphingomonas desiccabilis in Simulated Martian Brines.

Aqueous solutions on Mars are theorized to contain very different ion compositions than those on Earth. To determine the effect of such solutions on typical environmental micro-organisms, which could be released from robotic spacecraft or human exploration activity, we investigated the resistance of Sphingomonas desiccabilis to brines that simulate the composition of martian aqueous environments. S.

Broadband near-infrared antireflection coatings fabricated by three-dimensional direct laser writing.

Three-dimensional direct laser writing via two-photon polymerization is used to fabricate anti-reflective structured surfaces (ARSSs) composed of subwavelength conicoid features optimized to operate over a wide bandwidth in the near-infrared range from 3700  cm to 6600  cm (2.7-1.52 μm).