Shear Thickening Behavior in Injectable Tetra-PEG Hydrogels Cross-Linked via Dynamic Thia-Michael Addition Bonds.

Injectable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels were reversibly cross-linked through thia-conjugate addition bonds and demonstrated to shear thicken at low shear rates. Cross-linking bond exchange kinetics and dilute polymer concentrations were leveraged to tune hydrogel plateau moduli (from 60 to 650 Pa) and relaxation times (from 2 to 8 s). Under continuous flow shear rheometry, these properties affected the onset of shear thickening and the degree of shear thickening achieved before a flow instability occurred.

Transcriptional regulation of living materials via extracellular electron transfer.

Engineered living materials combine the advantages of biological and synthetic systems by leveraging genetic and metabolic programming to control material-wide properties. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular electron transfer (EET), a microbial respiration process, can serve as a tunable bridge between live cell metabolism and synthetic material properties. In this system, EET flux from Shewanella oneidensis to a copper catalyst controls hydrogel cross-linking via two distinct chemistries to form living synthetic polymer networks.

The major inducible small heat shock protein HSP20-3 in the tardigrade Ramazzottius varieornatus forms filament-like structures and is an active chaperone.

The tardigrade Ramazzottius varieornatus has remarkable resilience to a range of environmental stresses. In this study, we have characterised two members of the small heat shock protein (sHSP) family in R. varieornatus, HSP20-3 and HSP20-6.

Photothermal Modulation of Dynamic Covalent Poly(ethylene glycol)/PEDOT Composite Hydrogels for On-Demand Drug Delivery.

Hydrogels are cross-linked three-dimensional polymer networks that have tissue-like properties. Dynamic covalent bonds (DCB) can be utilized as hydrogel cross-links to impart injectability, self-healing ability, and stimuli responsiveness to these materials. In our research, we utilized dynamic thiol-Michael bonds as cross-links in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels.

Evaluation of secondary sexual dimorphism of the dioecious Amaranthus palmeri under abiotic stress.

The evolution of secondary sex-specific traits of dioecious species under abiotic stress conditions has received limited research, especially in the case of Amaranthus palmeri, a fast adapting and highly competing plant. Here, we have examined the interactive effects of abiotic stress on mineral accumulation, chlorophyll a and b content, and the operating capacity of Photosystem II (PSII) in both male and female A. palmeri plants grown under three different intensities of white light, and under N, K or P deficiency.

Seroconversion against antigen MPB83 in badgers (Meles meles) vaccinated with multiple doses of BCG strain Sofia.

Serological diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers (Meles meles) has relied primarily on antibody recognition of MPB83, a sero-dominant antigen of M. bovis. Most vaccine studies in badgers to date have used the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Danish strain, a low producer of MPB83.

Effect of pH on the Properties of Hydrogels Cross-Linked via Dynamic Thia-Michael Addition Bonds.

Hydrogels cross-linked with dynamic covalent bonds exhibit time-dependent properties, making them an advantageous platform for applications ranging from biomaterials to self-healing networks. However, the relationship between the cross-link exchange kinetics, material properties, and stability of these platforms is not fully understood, especially upon addition of external stimuli. In this work, pH was used as a handle to manipulate cross-link exchange kinetics and control the resulting hydrogel mechanics and stability in a physiologically relevant window.

Protective immunity against tuberculosis in a free-living badger population vaccinated orally with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin.

Vaccination of badgers with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been shown to protect badgers against tuberculosis in experimental trials. During the 3-year County Kilkenny BCG vaccine field study, badgers were treated orally with placebo (100% in Zone A), BCG (100% in Zone C) or randomly assigned 50%: 50% treatment with BCG or placebo (Zone B). At the end of the study, 275 badgers were removed from the trial area and subjected to detailed post-mortem examination followed by histology and culture for M.

Global Transcriptomics Uncovers Distinct Contributions From Splicing Regulatory Proteins to the Macrophage Innate Immune Response.

Pathogen sensing pattern recognition receptors triggers massive reprogramming of macrophage gene expression. While the signaling cascades and transcription factors that activate these responses are well-known, the role of post-transcriptional RNA processing in modulating innate immune gene expression remains understudied. Given their crucial role in regulating pre-mRNA splicing and other RNA processing steps, we hypothesized that members of the SR/hnRNP protein families regulate innate immune gene expression in distinct ways.

Identification of Novel Acinetobacter baumannii Type VI Secretion System Antibacterial Effector and Immunity Pairs.

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a macromolecular machine that delivers protein effectors into host cells and/or competing bacteria. The effectors may be delivered as noncovalently bound cargo of T6SS needle proteins (VgrG/Hcp/PAAR) or as C-terminal extensions of these proteins. Many strains produce a T6SS, but little is known about the specific effectors or how they are delivered.

Potential of conventional & bispecific broadly neutralizing antibodies for prevention of HIV-1 subtype A, C & D infections.

There is great interest in passive transfer of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) and engineered bispecific antibodies (Abs) for prevention of HIV-1 infections due to their in vitro neutralization breadth and potency against global isolates and long in vivo half-lives. We compared the potential of eight bnAbs and two bispecific Abs currently under clinical development, and their 2 Ab combinations, to prevent infection by dominant HIV-1 subtypes in sub-Saharan Africa. Using in vitro neutralization data for Abs against 25 subtype A, 100 C, and 20 D pseudoviruses, we modeled neutralization by single Abs and 2 Ab combinations assuming realistic target concentrations of 10μg/ml total for bnAbs and combinations, and 5μg/ml for bispecifics.

Neutralizing Activity of Broadly Neutralizing Anti-HIV-1 Antibodies against Clade B Clinical Isolates Produced in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Recently discovered broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1 demonstrate extensive breadth and potency against diverse HIV-1 strains and represent a promising approach for the treatment and prevention of HIV-1 infection. The breadth and potency of these antibodies have primarily been evaluated by using panels of HIV-1 Env-pseudotyped viruses produced in 293T cells expressing molecularly cloned Env proteins. Here we report on the ability of five bNAbs currently in clinical development to neutralize circulating primary HIV-1 isolates derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and compare the results to those obtained with the pseudovirus panels used to characterize the bNAbs.

Sustained intra-cartilage delivery of low dose dexamethasone using a cationic carrier for treatment of post traumatic osteoarthritis.

Disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) should reach their intra-tissue target sites at optimal doses for clinical efficacy. The dense, negatively charged matrix of cartilage poses a major hindrance to the transport of potential therapeutics. In this work, electrostatic interactions were utilised to overcome this challenge and enable higher uptake, full-thickness penetration and enhanced retention of dexamethasone (Dex) inside rabbit cartilage.

IL-10 suppression of IFN-γ responses in tuberculin-stimulated whole blood from Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle.

The measurement of bovine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) forms the basis of a diagnostic test for bovine tuberculosis where Mycobacterium bovis sensitised effector T cells produce IFN-γ following in vitro stimulation with tuberculin antigens. In cattle infected with M. bovis it is also known that the anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine can inhibit in vitro production of IFN-γ leading to a reduced response in the IFN-γ diagnostic test.

Oral Vaccination of Free-Living Badgers (Meles meles) with Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) Vaccine Confers Protection against Tuberculosis.

A field trial was conducted to investigate the impact of oral vaccination of free-living badgers against natural-transmitted Mycobacterium bovis infection. For a period of three years badgers were captured over seven sweeps in three zones and assigned for oral vaccination with a lipid-encapsulated BCG vaccine (Liporale-BCG) or with placebo. Badgers enrolled in Zone A were administered placebo while all badgers enrolled in Zone C were vaccinated with BCG.

Oral vaccination of badgers (Meles meles) against tuberculosis: comparison of the protection generated by BCG vaccine strains Pasteur and Danish.

Vaccination of badgers by the subcutaneous, mucosal and oral routes with the Pasteur strain of Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has resulted in significant protection against experimental infection with virulent M. bovis. However, as the BCG Danish strain is the only commercially licensed BCG vaccine for use in humans in the European Union it is the vaccine of choice for delivery to badger populations.

Trophic enrichment factors for blood serum in the European badger (Meles meles).

Ecologists undertaking stable isotopic analyses of animal diets require trophic enrichment factors (TEFs) for the specific animal tissues that they are studying. Such basic data are available for a small number of species, so values from trophically or phylogenetically similar species are often substituted for missing values. By feeding a controlled diet to captive European badgers (Meles meles) we determined TEFs for carbon and nitrogen in blood serum.

Lipopolysaccharide-deficient Acinetobacter baumannii shows altered signaling through host Toll-like receptors and increased susceptibility to the host antimicrobial peptide LL-37.

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii have emerged as a serious global health problem. We have shown previously that A. baumannii can become resistant to the last-line antibiotic colistin via the loss of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), including the lipid A anchor, from the outer membrane (J.

Field-acclimated Gossypium hirsutum cultivars exhibit genotypic and seasonal differences in photosystem II thermostability.

Previous investigations have demonstrated that photosystem II (PSII) thermostability acclimates to prior exposure to heat and drought, but contrasting results have been reported for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). We hypothesized that PSII thermotolerance in G. hirsutum would acclimate to environmental conditions during the growing season and that there would be differences in PSII thermotolerance between commercially-available U.

Innate gene repression associated with Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle: toward a gene signature of disease.

Background: Bovine tuberculosis is an enduring disease of cattle that has significant repercussions for human health. The advent of high-throughput functional genomics technologies has facilitated large-scale analyses of the immune response to this disease that may ultimately lead to novel diagnostics and therapeutic targets. Analysis of mRNA abundance in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from six Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle and six non-infected controls was performed.

Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle after in vitro antigenic stimulation with purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD).

Microarray analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance was used to investigate the gene expression program of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis. An immunospecific bovine microarray platform (BOTL-4) with spot features representing 1336 genes was used for transcriptional profiling of PBMC from six M. bovis-infected cattle stimulated in vitro with bovine purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD-bovine).

Diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle by use of the gamma-interferon (Bovigam) assay.

The strategic use of the gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) assay (Bovigam) can provide a means for the early identification of Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle, thus ensuring their removal from an infected herd. When used in parallel with the tuberculin test, it is capable of identifying infected cattle, which might otherwise not be detected until later, if at all. The early detection and removal of these animals reduces the risk that they will become a source of infection for other cattle.

The allergic patient who is noncompliant and abusive: dealing with the adverse experience.

The field of Allergy-Immunology is involved with the care of patients with chronic illness. The care of these patients is enhanced when the physician has established good rapport with the patient. The noncompliant, disruptive behavior of some patients can try the patience of even the most understanding physicians and, in turn, impede the delivery of care.