Interaction between bacterial phytochromes Agp1 and Agp2 of Agrobacterium fabrum by fluorescence resonance energy transfer and docking studies.

Phytochromes are biliprotein photoreceptors found in bacteria, fungi, and plants. The soil bacterium Agrobacterium fabrum has two phytochromes, Agp1 and Agp2, which work together to control DNA transfer to plants and bacterial conjugation. Both phytochromes interact as homodimeric proteins.

Coding relationship links RNA G-quadruplexes and protein RGG motifs in RNA-binding protein autoregulation.

RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s), the four-stranded structures formed by guanine-rich RNA sequences, are recognized by regions in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that are enriched in arginine-glycine repeats (RGG motifs). Importantly, arginine and glycine are encoded by guanine-rich codons, suggesting that some RGG motifs may both be encoded by and interact with rG4s in autogenous messenger RNAs (mRNAs). By analyzing transcriptome-wide rG4 datasets, we show that hundreds of RGG motifs in humans are at least partly encoded by rG4s, with an increased incidence for longer RGG motifs (~10 or more residues).

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity amongst healthcare workers in South Africa during the Omicron wave: natural infection versus vaccination.

Aims: Concerns over population-level immunity have been heightened with each successive wave of COVID-19, prompting questions about whether it is primarily derived from vaccination efforts or from previous natural infections with the virus. We wished to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Pretoria (Tshwane), South Africa, and to establish whether they were derived from vaccination or natural infection.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from HCWs during the fourth wave of COVID-19 between 1 December 2021 and 13 March 2022.

New Upper Limit on the Axion-Photon Coupling with an Extended CAST Run with a Xe-Based Micromegas Detector.

Hypothetical axions provide a compelling explanation for dark matter and could be emitted from the hot solar interior. The CERN Axion Solar Telescope has been searching for solar axions via their back conversion to x-ray photons in a 9-T 10-m long magnet directed toward the Sun. We report on an extended run with the International Axion Observatory pathfinder detector, doubling the previous exposure time.

Distinct epigenetic and transcriptional profiles of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive and negative primary CNS lymphomas.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)+ and EBV- primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSL) carry distinct mutational landscapes, but their transcriptional and epigenetic profiles have not been integrated and compared. This precludes further insights into pathobiology and molecular differences, relevant for classification and targeted therapy.

Methods: 23 EBV- and 15 EBV+ PCNSL, histologically classified as diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, were subjected to RNA-Sequencing and EPIC methylation arrays.

HBV shows different levels of adaptation to HLA class I-associated selection pressure correlating with markers of replication.

Background & Aims: Immune responses by CD8 T cells are essential for control of HBV replication. Although selection of escape mutations in CD8 T-cell epitopes has been previously described in HBV infection, its overall influence on HBV sequence diversity and correlation with markers of HBV replication remain unclear.

Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was applied to HBV isolates from 532 patients with chronic HBV infection and high-resolution HLA class I genotyping.

mRNA vaccine-induced IgG mediates nasal SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines that have contributed to controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic induce specific serum antibodies, which correlate with protection. However, the neutralizing capacity of antibodies for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants is altered. Suboptimal antibody responses are observed in patients with humoral immunodeficiency diseases, ongoing B cell depletion therapy, and aging.

Metabolic profile of prepartum dairy cows and its influence on the immediate postpartum period, colostrum quality and passive immunity transference.

The objective of this study was to evaluate which biochemical markers in the prepartum period of dairy cows influence the immediate postpartum period, the quality of colostrum, and the passive immunity transference in the calves. The experiment was performed on a commercial dairy farm with 52 pregnant multiparous Holstein cows. Animals that gave birth to twins or males were discarded from the experiment.

Charity Scott - A Masterful Teacher.

In 2006, the University of Maryland Carey School of Law had the privilege of co-hosting the annual Health Law Professors Conference with the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics (ASLME). Coincidentally, as director of the Law & Health Care Program at Maryland, I had the opportunity to announce the winner of the Jay Healey Health Law Teachers' Award at the conference. The award is given to "professors who have devoted a significant portion of their career to health law teaching and whose selection would honor Jay [Healey's] legacy through their passion for teaching health law, their mentoring of students and/or other faculty and by their being an inspiration to colleagues and students.

H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b dynamics in experimentally infected calves and cows.

In March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.

scBubbletree: computational approach for visualization of single cell RNA-seq data.

Background: Visualization approaches transform high-dimensional data from single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) experiments into two-dimensional plots that are used for analysis of cell relationships, and as a means of reporting biological insights. Yet, many standard approaches generate visuals that suffer from overplotting, lack of quantitative information, and distort global and local properties of biological patterns relative to the original high-dimensional space.

Results: We present scBubbletree, a new, scalable method for visualization of scRNA-seq data.

GFAP and NfL as fluid biomarkers for clinical disease severity and disease progression in multiple system atrophy (MSA).

Background: Multiple system atrophy (MSA), an atypical parkinsonian syndrome, is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease with currently no established fluid biomarkers available. MSA is characterized by an oligodendroglial α-synucleinopathy, progressive neuronal cell loss and concomitant astrocytosis. Here, we investigate glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) as fluid biomarkers for differential diagnosis, assessment of clinical disease severity and prediction of disease progression in MSA.

Myositis -specific and -associated antibodies in neurological disorders - A retrospective study of 727 patients.

Objective: Myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) and myositis-associated antibodies (MAAs) are assessed in clinical neurology, serving as a non-invasive tool for the differential diagnosis of autoimmune myopathies. However, the presence of MSAs and MAAs in neurological disorders remains uncertain.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on 878 serum samples from the neurological laboratory of the University Hospital Tübingen, Germany.

Replication-deficient Sendai virus expressing human norovirus capsid protein elicits robust NoV-specific antibody and T-cell responses in mice.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major global cause of acute gastroenteritis, with vaccine development facing several challenges. Despite years of research, there are currently no licensed vaccines available for controlling HuNoVs. Here, we describe the construction and testing of a replication-deficient Sendai virus (SeV) vector as a potential vaccine candidate against the HuNoV GII.

Outcome of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in calves and lactating cows.

In March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.

Cell-type-specific expression analysis of liver transcriptomics with clinical parameters to decipher the cause of intrahepatic inflammation in chronic hepatitis B.

Functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains challenging due to the lack of direct intervention methods for hepatic inflammation. Multi-omics research offers a promising approach to understand hepatic inflammation mechanisms in CHB. A Bayesian linear model linked gene expression with clinical parameters, and population-specific expression analysis (PSEA) refined bulk gene expression into specific cell types across different clinical phases.

Clinical Presentation, Management, and Outcome in Neurolymphomatosis: A Systematic Review.

Background And Objectives: Neurolymphomatosis (NL) refers to lymphomatous infiltration of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). NL diagnosis and treatment are challenging given the broad differential diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, the lack of larger cohorts, and the subsequent unavailability of prognostic factors or consensus therapy. This study aimed to define characteristics and prognostic factors of NL.

Detection of novel orthoparamyxoviruses, orthonairoviruses and an orthohepevirus in European white-toothed shrews.

While the viromes and immune systems of bats and rodents have been extensively studied, comprehensive data are lacking for insectivores (order Eulipotyphla) despite their wide geographic distribution. Anthropogenic land use and outdoor recreational activities, as well as changes in the range of shrews, may lead to an expansion of the human-shrew interface with the risk of spillover infections, as reported for Borna disease virus 1. We investigated the virome of 45 individuals of 4 white-toothed shrew species present in Europe, using metagenomic RNA sequencing of tissue and intestine pools.

Disrupting glioblastoma networks with tumor treating fields (TTFields) in in vitro models.

Purpose: This study investigates the biological effect of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) on key drivers of glioblastoma's malignancy-tumor microtube (TM) formation-and on the function and overall integrity of the tumor cell network.

Method: Using a two-dimensional monoculture GB cell network model (2DTM) of primary glioblastoma cell (GBC) cultures (S24, BG5 or T269), we evaluated the effects of TTFields on cell density, interconnectivity and structural integrity of the tumor network. We also analyzed calcium (Ca) transient dynamics and network morphology, validating findings in patient-derived tumoroids and brain tumor organoids.

Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2-Specific IgY Antibodies: Production, Reactivity, and Neutralizing Capability against Virus Variants.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 initiated a global pandemic, which led to a need for effective therapeutics and diagnostic tools, including virus-specific antibodies. Here, we investigate different antigen preparations to produce SARS-CoV-2-specific and virus-neutralizing antibodies in chickens (n = 3/antigen) and rabbits (n = 2/antigen), exploring, in particular, egg yolk for large-scale production of immunoglobulin Y (IgY). Reactivity profiles of IgY preparations from chicken sera and yolk and rabbit sera were tested in parallel.