IMD-mediated innate immune priming increases Drosophila survival and reduces pathogen transmission.

Invertebrates lack the immune machinery underlying vertebrate-like acquired immunity. However, in many insects past infection by the same pathogen can 'prime' the immune response, resulting in improved survival upon reinfection. Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis and epidemiological consequences of innate immune priming in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster when infected with the gram-negative bacterial pathogen Providencia rettgeri.

E2F1 Signalling is Predictive of Chemoresistance and Lymphogenic Metastasis in Penile Cancer: A Pilot Functional Study Reveals New Prognostic Biomarkers.

Background: For penile cancer (PC) there are no known molecular predictors of lymphatic spread and/or chemoresistance.

Objective: To identify functional biomarkers that can predict malignant progression and treatment responsiveness.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We used four patient-derived PC cell lines and measured invasion and capillary tube formation, chemoresponsiveness, and mRNA and protein expression.

Thyroid Ultrasound: State of the Art. Part 2 - Focal Thyroid Lesions.

Accurate differentiation of focal thyroid nodules (FTL) and thyroid abnormalities is pivotal for proper diagnostic and therapeutic work-up. In these two part articles, the role of ultrasound techniques in the characterization of FTL and evaluation of diffuse thyroid diseases is described to expand on the recently published World Federation in Ultrasound and Medicine (WFUMB) thyroid elastography guidelines and review how this guideline fits into a complete thyroid ultrasound exam.

Thyroid Ultrasound: State of the Art Part 1 - Thyroid Ultrasound reporting and Diffuse Thyroid Diseases.

Accurate differentiation of focal thyroid nodules (FTL) and thyroid abnormalities is pivotal for proper diagnostic and therapeutic work-up. In these two part articles, the role of ultrasound techniques in the characterization of FTL and evaluation of diffuse thyroid diseases is described to expand on the recently published World Federation in Ultrasound and Medicine (WFUMB) thyroid elastography guidelines and review how this guideline fits into a complete thyroid ultrasound exam.

Increased nitric oxide levels in cerebellum of cachectic rats with Walker 256 solid tumor.

In cancer cachexia, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the central nervous system remains unclear. Cerebellar degeneration has been reported in cancer patients, but the participation of NO has not been studied. Thus, this study investigated the mechanism of oxidative cerebellar injury in a time-course cancer cachexia experimental model.

Deliberate introduction of the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, into Australia.

The European rabbit was brought to Australia as a companion animal by early settlers. It sometimes escaped, but failed to survive in the Australian bush. In 1879 wild rabbits were deliberately sent to Victoria to provide game for wealthy settlers to shoot.

Frank MacFarlane Burnet: two personal views.

In honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Frank MacFarlane Burnet's presentation of the clonal selection theory, two of his former staff reminisce about their interactions with this Nobel prize-winning scientist.

The efficacy of cidofovir treatment of mice infected with ectromelia (mousepox) virus encoding interleukin-4.

Improved vaccines and therapies for virulent poxvirus infection are required, particularly in the light of recent threats of bioterrorism. Cidofovir (HPMPC) is an acyclic nucleoside analog with proven efficacy against poxviruses. Here, we evaluated HPMPC in mice given a recombinant ectromelia virus (ECTV) encoding interleukin-4 (ECTV-IL-4) that is highly immune suppressive.

Biological agents as weapons 2: anthrax and plague.

Although most naturally occurring infections with anthrax and plague are cutaneous, both organisms are most likely to be deliberately disseminated in aerosolised form, resulting in severe pulmonary illness. Mortality from both would be high and rapid in the absence of early and effective treatment, making swift and effective liaison between alert clinicians and public health authorities crucial to an effective response. Differentiating features include mediastinal widening (anthrax) and haemoptysis (plague).

Biological agents as weapons 1: smallpox and botulism.

1. Early recognition by clinicians of illnesses suggesting a biological attack is integral to the public health response. 2.

Recent events and observations pertaining to smallpox virus destruction in 2002.

To destroy all remaining stocks of variola virus on or before 31 December 2002 seems an even more compelling goal today than it did in 1999, when the 52d World Health Assembly authorized temporary retention of remaining stocks to facilitate the possible development of (1) a more attenuated, less reactogenic smallpox vaccine and (2) an antiviral drug that could be used in treatment of patients with smallpox. We believe the deadline established in 1999 should be adhered to, given the potential outcomes of present research. Although verification that every country will have destroyed its stock of virus is impossible, it is reasonable to assume that the risk of a smallpox virus release would be diminished were the World Health Assembly to call on each country to destroy its stocks of smallpox virus and to state that any person, laboratory, or country found to have virus after date x would be guilty of a crime against humanity.

Adventures with poxviruses of vertebrates.

Because they were the largest of all viruses and could be visualised with a light microscope, the poxviruses were the first viruses to be intensively studied in the laboratory. It was clear from an early date that they caused important diseases of humans and their domestic animals, such as smallpox, cowpox, camelpox, sheeppox, fowlpox and goatpox. This essay recounts some of the early history of their recognition and classification and then expands on aspects of research on poxviruses in which the author has been involved.

Candidate viral diseases for elimination or eradication.

This article discusses the possibilities for elimination or eradication of four viral diseases--measles, hepatitis B, rubella and yellow fever.

Historical vignette: a life with poxviruses and publishers.

Although I started science investigating the physical anthropology of Australian aboriginals and then spent six years in the Australian Army during the 1939-45 war, largely working on malaria control, the poxviruses have been the focal point of my research--at the bench, in the field, on committees, and in front of my word processor. I have had a relatively short period as a scientist at the bench, just over twenty years out of the sixty years since I graduated. For the last thirty years the pipette has been replaced by the pen and the word processor, and contacts with publishers have become an important element in my life.

Malaria in New Guinea during the Second World War: the Land Headquarters Medical Research Unit.

In June 1943 arrangements were made to carry out experiments on malaria suppressive drugs on human volunteers in Cairns, in north Queensland, under the direction of Brigadier Neil Hamilton Fairley; early in 1944 the Land Headquarters Medical Research Unit was established to continue this work. Using 868 healthy volunteers and 317 infected soldiers and A. punctulatus mosquitoes flow in from New Guinea or bred locally, several suppressive drugs were tested.

Malaria control in Papua New Guinea in the Second World War: from disaster to successful prophylaxis and the dawn of DDT.

Australian forces were involved in warfare in hyperendemic areas of New Guinea from early 1942 until late 1945. Initially they were ill-prepared and suffered very heavy malaria casualties, even when not engaged in fighting. As a result measures were taken to make the supervision of personal protection (clothes, suppressive atebrin, repellent, mosquito nets) a matter for unit commanders rather than a medical problem.