Oxidative Properties of Atmospheric Particles and their Biological Effects.

Particulate Matter (PM) is the most toxic component in polluted air causing over 6 million deaths per year worldwide according to World Health Organisation estimates. Due to the highly complex composition of PM in the atmosphere, with thousands of inorganic and especially organic components, it is unknown which particle sources are responsible for their toxicity. In recent years it emerged that overall oxidising particle properties might directly link particle composition with health effects.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Cloud Droplet Residuals and Aerosol Particles During the Arctic Ocean 2018 Expedition.

Detailed knowledge of the physical and chemical properties and sources of particles that form clouds is especially important in pristine areas like the Arctic, where particle concentrations are often low and observations are sparse. Here, we present in situ cloud and aerosol measurements from the central Arctic Ocean in August-September 2018 combined with air parcel source analysis. We provide direct experimental evidence that Aitken mode particles (particles with diameters ≲70 nm) significantly contribute to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) or cloud droplet residuals, especially after the freeze-up of the sea ice in the transition toward fall.

Observed coupling between air mass history, secondary growth of nucleation mode particles and aerosol pollution levels in Beijing.

Atmospheric aerosols have significant effects on the climate and on human health. New particle formation (NPF) is globally an important source of aerosols but its relevance especially towards aerosol mass loadings in highly polluted regions is still controversial. In addition, uncertainties remain regarding the processes leading to severe pollution episodes, concerning the role of atmospheric transport.

Responses of gaseous sulfuric acid and particulate sulfate to reduced SO concentration: A perspective from long-term measurements in Beijing.

SO concentration decreased rapidly in recent years in China due to the implementation of strict control policies by the government. Particulate sulfate (pSO) and gaseous HSO (SA) are two major products of SO and they play important roles in the haze formation and new particle formation (NPF), respectively. We examined the change in pSO and SA concentrations in response to reduced SO concentration using long-term measurement data in Beijing.

Protective effect of a germline, IL-17-neutralizing antibody in murine models of autoimmune inflammatory disease.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) inhibiting cytokines have recently emerged as new drug modalities for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a T-cell-derived central mediator of autoimmunity. Immunization with Qβ-IL-17, a virus-like particle based vaccine, has been shown to produce autoantibodies in mice and was effective in ameliorating disease symptoms in animal models of autoimmunity.